Located in Moguer (Huelva-Andalusia), the new Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Center (CEUS) is a project of the Spanish Ministry of Defense, developed by the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI).

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, as well as the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles; the Secretary General for Innovation, Teresa Riesgo; and the President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla.

The President of the Government highlighted the State’s commitment to investing in science and technological innovation as a decisive factor in strengthening the Spanish economy:

«This strategic country bet is paying off, as evidenced by leading national and international economic organizations; the OECD certifies that Spain has become the main engine of economic growth and job creation in Europe.»

The President of the Government described the CEUS facilities as “the best example of what it means to invest in science and innovation”. Sánchez stressed the government’s intention to reindustrialize Spain, based on two principles: promoting knowledge and innovation as drivers of employment, and strengthening territorial cohesion to ensure equal opportunities in all regions. In this context, the President highlighted “the driving power of the Ministry of Defense for territorial cohesion and the progress of all”.

CEUS

The CEUS project represents an investment of 28 million euros. It has a unique infrastructure and a privileged location, which allows it to maintain an operability of more than 330 days a year. It has a testing capacity for UAS/RPA systems of all categories and sizes. It has a runway of 2,000 meters long and 45 meters wide, with a north-south orientation, as well as a taxiway of 270m long and 38m wide, with a west-east orientation.

The center is configured to send and receive data in real time to other important Spanish aerospace research facilities, allowing the operation of unmanned systems from remote locations.

It also has a test area over the sea of 150×77 kms with no altitude limit. The available airspace includes several protected flight zones, which can be activated by NOTAM (Notice To Airmen). The facilities allow testing of unmanned aircraft up to 25,000 kg maximum take-off weight. It can also operate manned aircraft, such as INTA’s C295 research/air laboratory.

CEUS stands out for being a unique research center in Europe, designed and built exclusively for testing medium and large remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPA).