Maj. Gen. Meijide Spanish Army: "Its necessary to replace the PASI and acquire Class I RPAS"

The head of the Spanish Army General Staff’s Planning Division, Maj. Gen. Luis Manuel Martínez Meijide, took part at a panel discussion about RPAS use and doctrine at UNVEX S&D.

In an interview with Infodefensa.com, the general said that the Army needed to “increase its acquisitions of Class I systems (micro, mini and small) and replace the current Class II PASI (sensorized aerial intelligence platform) with a system that meets present and future needs.”

Meijide also underscored that in the coming years, “the operational environment will remain unpredictable, dynamic, unstable and be of growing complexity.”

Could you summarize the regulatory framework for RPAS use in the Army?

To operate RPAS you need to first comply with the Defense Airworthiness Rulebook, along with the specific rules set by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As to the Army, there are regulations on flight security and operator training. There’s also an implementation committee that monitors and controls RPAS and coordinates everything related to their implementation and operation.

Is the Army working on new legislation that incorporates the advances in the sector?

The Army is cooperating with the Air Force on updating and adapting military rules to our current needs, especially those derived from operating the PASI system from Air Force facilities and airspace management.

In the short and medium term, is the arrival of new remotely-piloted systems being studied? What needs have been identified when it comes to RPAS?

The Army is taking part in the elaboration of the General Staff’s requirements for the systems of interest within the Joint Work Group on RPAS. In particular, there’s a need to significantly increase the acquisition of Class I systems (micro, mini and small) and to replace the current Class II PASI with a system that meets present and future needs.