Tactical Deployment in the Baltic Sea
Airbus Helicopters has officially initiated maritime surveillance operations in the Baltic Sea using the U030 Flexrotor tactical uncrewed aerial system. The mission is being conducted on behalf of the European Maritime Security Agency (EMSA). This deployment follows the award of a 30 million Euro framework contract in December 2025, aimed at providing multipurpose remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) services across the European Union.
Expanding Maritime Security
The U030 Flexrotor is tasked with supporting national authorities in Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. Its operational scope includes a variety of coast guard functions: search and rescue, fisheries control, environmental monitoring, and the detection of illegal maritime activities. By providing real-time intelligence through Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) and radar payloads, the system enables an integrated operational workflow for participating member states.
Sovereignty and Precision
Victor Gerin-Roze, Head of Uncrewed Aerial Systems at Airbus Helicopters, noted that the deployment demonstrates the platform capability in diverse maritime environments. The data gathered is streamed directly to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre, providing immediate actionable information. This contract signifies a continued push toward utilizing autonomous systems to strengthen European maritime sovereignty and safety.
Operations are managed by Airbus Helicopters and executed by service provider Extensee, marking the first significant operational deployment of the U030 Flexrotor in European waters under this specific framework.