Aertec finishes development of Spain’s first drone-launched missile Fox I.

On October 29, 2024, the Spanish TEDAE announced that Aertec had completed the development of its Fox I micro-missile, marking it as the first drone-launched missile manufactured in Spain. This development, carried out in collaboration with the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM), is part of the ARPA project, aimed at equipping Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) with precision weaponry. The project is scheduled to enter its final qualification phase in 2025, with up to 100 validation shots planned to assess the Fox I's operational performance.
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The potential of micro-missiles like Aertec’s Fox I for drone applications lies in equipping small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with efficient, lightweight, and adaptable precision strike capabilities. (Picture source: TEDAE)

Aertec worked with the DGAM to redesign its Tarsis-W platform, a weaponized variant of the Tarsis 75, under the DGAM Coincidente program. In this collaboration, Aertec contributed 70% of the funding, with DGAM providing the remaining 30%. The contract with DGAM covered design, prototype production, development, and a series of successful surface-to-surface firing trials, including a fully guided missile launch with a warhead. Conducted at the San Gregorio maneuver field in Zaragoza and the Las Bardenas training ground in Navarra, these trials demonstrated the missile's readiness for the next qualification phase. In 2025, Aertec plans to conduct up to 100 additional surface-to-surface and air-to-surface firings to evaluate the missile's operational viability for integration with the Tarsis-W platform.

The Tarsis 75, Aertec’s Class I UAS system, is a light tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for observation, surveillance, and light weapons integration. The fixed-wing UAS has a maximum takeoff weight of 75 kg, can carry up to 12 kg of payload, and achieves a maximum flight time of 12 hours. It has a wingspan of 5.2 meters, a length of 3.8 meters, and can operate from various runways and terrains. It offers options for catapult launch, emergency recovery by parachute, and a backup satellite communications system. The UAS operates autonomously for its complete flight plan, including takeoff and landing, while retaining manual control capability if required. It can reach altitudes of up to 5,000 meters and has an operational video range between 70 and 150 kilometers, making it suitable for deploying the Fox I micro-missile.

The Fox I micro-missile, also known as the μASM A-Fox, is designed specifically for use with small RPAS and features intermediate inertial navigation along with semi-active laser terminal guidance. It is 900 mm long, weighs 3 kg, and has a range of up to 4 kilometers, capable of engaging soft targets, opportunity targets, and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) sensors. Aertec’s Fox I relies on an internally developed high-performance guidance kit and laser seeker for precise targeting.

The missile’s warhead and rocket motor were developed in collaboration with the Spanish defense manufacturer Instalaza. The warhead, adapted from Instalaza's C90 munition and equipped with a custom-designed fuse, is intended for use against designated targets. The rocket motor is designed to fit the missile’s compact scale while maintaining stability in flight. The INTA Subdirectorate General of Terrestrial Systems supported the project with testing resources and engineering assistance. Furthermore, the Fox I micro-missile’s modular design allows for integration across various aerial platforms with minimal software modifications. Optimized for Class I UAS like the Tarsis 75, the missile’s size and flexibility make it suitable for a range of light aerial platforms requiring precision engagement capabilities.

The potential of micro-missiles like Aertec’s Fox I for drone applications lies in equipping small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) with efficient, lightweight, and adaptable precision strike capabilities. These micro-missiles enable tactical strikes on lightly armored targets with precision, minimizing collateral effects. Their modularity and small size allow integration with various drone types, supporting flexibility across missions. Additionally, their adaptability enables drones to conduct close air support and beyond-line-of-sight engagements with onboard sensors and target systems, facilitating operations in high-risk environments. This capability offers cost efficiency by reducing the need for larger aircraft or traditional munitions for specific tactical scenarios, from counter-UAS engagements to direct fire support​.