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TechAirbus Helicopters U030 Flexrotor begins maritime surveillance ops in Baltic Sea for EMSA
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The Airbus Helicopters U030 Flexrotor tactical unmanned aerial system has officially commenced maritime surveillance operations in the Baltic Sea on behalf of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The deployment, which began in July in Estonia, Latvia, and Finland, follows a framework contract worth 30 million euros awarded to Airbus Helicopters in December 2025. The system is operated by subcontractor Extensee and provides real-time situational awareness data using electro-optical/infrared sensors and radar, transmitted to the EMSA RPAS data center. National authorities can monitor missions live and integrate the information into their operational workflows. The U030 Flexrotor supports coast guard tasks including search and rescue, fisheries monitoring, environmental surveillance, and detection of illegal activities at sea. This marks the system's first operational deployment in Europe, contributing to maritime surveillance and European sovereignty.
Source report
The subcontractor Extensee serves as the operator. The start of operations followed a series of successful test flights, which validated technical and regulatory milestones for commissioning and supported the handover to Extensee.
The first operational deployment began in July in the Baltic Sea region (Estonia, Latvia, and Finland), marking the commissioning of the U030 Flexrotor under the EMSA program. The system supports national authorities in maritime surveillance.
"We are pleased that the U030 Flexrotor is entering operational service under the EMSA contract. This is also its first operational deployment in Europe and an important contribution to strengthening maritime surveillance," said Victor Gerin-Roze, Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus Helicopters. "The deployment in the Baltic region demonstrates the system's ability to operate effectively in diverse maritime environments while supporting key coast guard tasks. With this contract, we are contributing to the protection of Europe and the strengthening of its sovereignty – we are proud of this."
Live Mission Monitoring for National Authorities
The service provides operational situational awareness data, captured using electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and radar systems, and transmitted in real-time to the EMSA RPAS data center. This allows participating national authorities to monitor missions live and directly integrate the information into their operational workflows.
The system supports coast guard tasks including:
- Search and rescue operations
- Fisheries monitoring
- Environmental surveillance
- Detection of illegal activities at sea
Operational Management
The management and coordination of RPAS operations are carried out by Airbus Helicopters under the EMSA contract, which enables simultaneous deployment in multiple participating countries. The U030 Flexrotor is operated by the service provider Extensee.
Airbus UAS Portfolio
Airbus offers a comprehensive portfolio of unmanned aerial systems through its Helicopters and Defence and Space divisions. The entire product range has been renamed to align with the company's helicopter and fixed-wing product designations.
Source: Airbus Helicopters
Source
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikWestern
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Airbus U030 Flexrotor Begins Maritime Surveillance Operations for EMSA in the Baltic Sea