Spanish tactical unmanned helicopter manufacturer Alpha Unmanned Systems has closed a €4 million financing operation backed by export credit agency Cesce, with Banco Santander, Bankinter and BBVA participating. The funds will support increased production at a new Madrid plant, recruitment of skilled staff and faster development of its unmanned platforms, as the company targets defence and security markets in Europe, the United States, Latin America and Asia.
Alpha develops and manufactures tactical unmanned helicopters and dual-use subsystems. It has customers in 14 countries, including the US Department of Defense, the Hellenic Navy and Bulgaria’s Border Police. In Spain, its platforms are used by the Civil Guard, the Military Emergency Unit and the Navy.
The company has not disclosed the financing terms or when funds will be disbursed. It has also provided no production-capacity figure for the new facility. The stated industrial plans are to increase manufacturing capacity and expand the workforce; the financing is also intended to accelerate innovation across its platforms.