Greece has taken another important step in defense technologies. Greek defense company SAS Technology conducted a series of live-fire tests in the city of Litochoro between February 2-10, 12, as part of the certification process for its SRS-2025A (Sarisa II) drone. The aim of these tests was to evaluate the drone’s ability to successfully deploy guided and unguided 70 mm rockets. The tests were conducted under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of National Defense in cooperation with Thales Belgium and Hellenic Defense Systems (HDS).
Testing Process and Rocket Launches
The first firing of the SRS-2A drone took place on February 10, 2025. In this test, an unguided 70 mm rocket was fired while the drone was hovering in the air. The firing was successful, following a predictable trajectory. In addition, the accuracy of optical aiming methods was tested during this test, confirming its functionality.
On February 11, the SRS-2A drone was tested again, this time with Thales’ laser-guided FZ275 rocket. In this test, the rocket hit the target on a 5×5 meter section of a 2×2 meter target. According to the test results, the rocket’s target hit error was recorded as 0.2 meters, and a circular error probability (CEP) of less than one meter was achieved. This was a significant achievement that demonstrated the rocket’s precision and target hit rate.
Range and Test Conditions
The tests were reportedly conducted at 1.700 meters, close to the rocket's minimum operational range. The FZ275 guided rocket is designed for engagement distances of 3-5 kilometers, with a maximum range of up to 7 kilometers. During the test, the rocket reached supersonic speeds and deployed its guidance wings after 400 meters. This demonstrated the rocket's efficiency and controllability even at high speeds.
Autonomous Flight and Ignition
The autonomous flight control system of the SRS-2A drone successfully carried out the firing sequence without any manual intervention, demonstrating the high degree of autonomous operation of the drone and the reliability of the system.
Live Show and International Participation
On the last day of the testing process, on February 12, 2025, a live demonstration was held with the participation of military officials from the Hellenic Land, Naval, Air and Special Forces Commands and international delegations. The SRS-2A successfully maintained its position in the air by launching a laser-guided FZ450 rocket from an altitude of 275 meters above sea level and achieved a CEP value of less than 1 meter.
Future Testing and Development
During the tests, the SRS-2A AIHMI loitering munitions had to be cancelled due to low cloud cover. However, overall the test was a successful trial demonstrating the SRS-2A’s precision, speed and reliability. These developments will enable the SRS-2A drone to play an important role in future operations and further intensify the global defense competition.
