Greece’s SARISA II Armed Drone Successfully Completes Live-Fire Tests: Ready for Operations
SAS Technology, one of Greece’s leading defense companies, announced on February 12, that its Sarisa II armed drone has completed live-fire tests and is ready for operational use. According to the Athens-based company, the tests were conducted over three days at the Litochoro Firing Range under the supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, with technical support from Thales Belgium and Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS).
On the first day, Sarisa II successfully fired a 70mm Unguided Rocket (UGR) from a fixed hover position. Despite the strong recoil from the firing, the drone managed to maintain flight stability. The rocket also followed the correct trajectory, confirming the functionality of optical aiming methods.
On the second day of testing, SARISA II launched Thales’ FZ275 laser-guided rocket at a 5×5-meter target with a central 2×2-meter section. The FZ275 LGR achieved a deviation of only 0.2m from the point of impact, demonstrating a circular error probability (CEP) of less than one meter. Due to geographical constraints of the firing range and Weapon Danger Area (WDA) limitations, the test was conducted at 1,700 meters, close to the weapon’s lower operational range. However, the FZ275 LGR’s ideal operational range is between 3 to 5 kilometers, with a maximum reach of 7 kilometers.
On the last day, a demonstration was organized with the participation of military officials from all branches of the Hellenic armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Forces). During the demonstration, Sarisa II again fired the LASER-guided FZ275 LGR rocket weighing 12 kg, just like the previous day. The program also included dropping AIHMI stray ammunition from the drone, but it could not be carried out due to weather conditions. Additionally, the Hellenic Special Forces demonstrated the UCAV Empusa EMPX6T, the first Greek-designed armed unmanned system in operational service since 2020.
SAS Technology announced after the test program that the SARISA II system achieved great success during the three-day test process. It was emphasized that the system offers a more efficient and economical alternative to the traditional and costly deployment methods of attack helicopters and fighter jets in close air support missions. The company also thanked THALES Belgium, Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS), the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense, the Hellenic Army, the 24th Armored Brigade, and the Litochoro Firing Range for their contributions to the program’s success.