Europe’s security challenges no longer stop at fences or coastlines. They move across seas, borders, and airspace — quietly, persistently, and often invisibly. To keep pace, Europe’s security forces are increasingly turning to long‑endurance unmanned systems. Spain’s latest move confirms the trend.

Czech drone manufacturer Primoco UAV SE has announced its first major contract for 2026: a €4 million deal with Spain’s Guardia Civil, one of Europe’s most complex and wide‑ranging security organizations. The agreement marks a significant milestone not only for Primoco, but for Europe’s growing reliance on domestically built unmanned aerial systems.

A drone for Europe’s hardest missions

The Guardia Civil is no ordinary police force. Operating nationwide with a military structure, it is tasked with countering organized crime, smuggling networks, illegal migration, terrorism, and threats to critical infrastructure. Its operational footprint stretches from land borders to maritime routes, ports, airports, and remote terrain — a demanding environment for any surveillance system.

Into this picture enters the Primoco One 150, a medium‑weight unmanned aircraft designed for persistence rather than spectacle. With an endurance of 10 to 15 hours, fully automated take‑off and landing, and advanced sensor payloads, the platform is built to stay airborne long after crews would normally rotate out.

For the Guardia Civil, this means continuous monitoring of large maritime and border areas, as well as tactical support for ground units operating in hard‑to‑reach locations. In a security landscape where coverage gaps are exploited in minutes, endurance becomes a strategic advantage.

Certified to fly where others can’t

What sets the Primoco One 150 apart is not only its performance, but its certification pedigree. The drone is the only UAV in its class certified under NATO STANAG 4703, while also holding civil approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and airworthiness certification under ICAO Annex II.

In practical terms, this allows seamless integration into controlled airspace — a decisive factor for operations over populated areas, coastlines, and critical infrastructure. Many UAVs promise capability; few can legally fly where security forces actually need them.

A company scaling up — fast

The Spanish contract follows an exceptional year for Primoco UAV SE. In 2025, the company secured orders for 42 drones worth €43.5 million, pushing total production of the One 150 platform beyond 250 units to date. These systems are now in service across four continents, including active deployment in Ukraine.

Industrial expansion is keeping pace with demand. At its factory airfield in Písek‑Krašovice, Primoco is completing a new hangar and training facilities, with full operational capability expected in the first half of this year. At the same time, the company has applied for permits to build an entirely new production hall in southern Bohemia, aiming to increase annual output to up to 300 UAVs.

This is no longer boutique manufacturing. It is industrialization.

Dual‑use by design

While the One 150 plays a growing role in military ISR missions, its design reflects Europe’s dual‑use reality. The platform is used for wildfire monitoring, disaster response, environmental surveillance, mobile communications support, and border protection — missions where civil and military responsibilities increasingly overlap.

Artificial intelligence‑based data analysis enables real‑time detection and interpretation, reducing operator workload and accelerating decision‑making. In an era of information saturation, automation becomes a force multiplier.

A signal beyond Spain

Spain’s decision to adopt the Primoco One 150 is more than a procurement headline. It signals confidence in European‑built, certified, long‑endurance UAVs at a time when airspace sovereignty, supply‑chain resilience, and operational autonomy are reshaping defense policy.

For Primoco UAV SE, the Guardia Civil contract reinforces its position as one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of medium‑weight unmanned aircraft. For Europe’s security community, it is another reminder that the future of surveillance is already airborne — quietly watching, legally flying, and staying aloft long enough to matter.

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