ITE to lead the SIRA-CUAS project, an intelligent acoustic system for UAS detection

Integración Tecnológica Empresarial (ITE) will lead the new strategic R&D&I project SIRA-CUAS, valued at €7.5 million and funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation (CDTI) under the Missions Science and Innovation 2025 programme.

The initiative will bring together a consortium of leading companies and organisations with complementary capabilities to address a highly complex technological challenge: the development of an intelligent acoustic system for the detection, classification and geolocation of UAS and FPV (unmanned aerial systems), with dual-use civil and military applications.

What SIRA-CUAS aims to achieve

The SIRA-CUAS project (Intelligent Acoustic Recognition System – Counter UAS) will investigate the development of a distributed system of intelligent acoustic sensors capable of detecting, classifying and geolocating UAS/FPV threats in complex operational environments.

The solution will combine artificial intelligence, edge computing and advanced acoustic analysis to deliver a passive, autonomous and portable system, designed to complement traditional C-UAS systems (radar, radio frequency and optical technologies) and to improve the detection of drones with a low electromagnetic profile or unpredictable flight paths.

The system will be organised into nodes equipped with MEMS sensors, featuring local AI-based processing, secure communications (MESH, LTE and satellite), advanced cybersecurity and adaptable power supply solutions. Its design will ensure scalability, robustness and compatibility with national C2/C3 systems, and is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 following validation in military and critical environments.

Consortium members and their roles

• Integración Tecnológica Empresarial (ITE), as project leader, will coordinate the overall architecture and the development of key components in sensing, subsystem integration and embedded cybersecurity. It will also lead multi-channel data fusion and functional validation in critical defence environments.
• System Drone España will contribute its expertise in unmanned platforms and onboard operating systems, strengthening innovation in counter-drone solutions.
• Next Level Technologies will provide artificial intelligence capabilities applied to complex acoustic environments and edge computing, which will be essential for autonomous decision-making.
• The University of Alcalá will contribute advanced research in acoustics, signal processing and AI, promoting knowledge transfer to the industrial sector.
• The National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) will ensure system validation and operational testing, guaranteeing regulatory compliance and supporting future certification.

Timeline and framework

SIRA-CUAS will be developed within the framework of the Missions Science and Innovation 2025 programme promoted by the CDTI and will receive funding to advance disruptive, modular and exportable solutions, aligned with current challenges related to technological sovereignty, security and the protection of critical infrastructures.

Why it will be strategic

Beyond its technological value, SIRA-CUAS will strengthen Spain’s industrial and technological defence base and will contribute to European operational autonomy. The project has been endorsed by the Spanish Air and Space Force, which considers it to be of high strategic interest due to its innovative capability for the detection and localisation of UAS/FPV threats through intelligent acoustic sensors. This approach will prove particularly useful for the protection of air bases, patrols and convoys, and will contribute to the development of a sovereign capability, integrable into national defence systems, as stated in the document signed by Miguel Ángel Orduña Rodríguez, Head of the Plans Division of the Air and Space Force General Staff.

This endorsement is complemented by institutional support from the Ministry of Defence, formalised once the evaluation process of the proposals submitted under the 2025 European Defence Fund (EDF) call had been completed. This support was communicated through an official letter signed, by order of the Deputy Director General for Planning, Technology and Innovation of DIGEID, by Federico de Pazos Pita da Veiga, Head of the Planning, Programming and Control Area for Armament and Equipment, thereby reinforcing the project’s strategic alignment with national and European defence capability development plans.

In addition, its modular and transferable design will enable applications in areas such as urban or border security, extending its impact beyond the military domain to civil applications for low-altitude drone monitoring and control. SIRA-CUAS will align with the National Security Strategy, the Defence Technology Plan and the objectives of the European Defence Fund, consolidating its position as a strategic initiative with the potential to influence the global market for passive C-UAS solutions.

How it will integrate into the consortium’s strategy

Each consortium member will contribute complementary capabilities that will enable the consortium to address a challenge of high technological complexity. SIRA-CUAS will align with the strategic plans for development, diversification and internationalisation of all participating entities, strengthening technology transfer and public–private collaboration in R&D&I.

Through this initiative, ITE will consolidate its leadership in high value-added projects, combining industrial, scientific and technological expertise, and will reaffirm its role as a national provider of detection, surveillance and active protection solutions for sensitive environments.