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Air · Reconnaissance aircraft

Fulmar X

Spanish-developed reusable surveillance aircraft, recorded against Thales’s dated launch baseline.

Role & capabilities

  • Reconnaissance
Supplier-reported statusSupplier-reported status
Primary domain
Air
System type
Reconnaissance aircraft
Developer / manufacturer
Thales
Origin / production countries
Spain
Other names
No additional names recorded
Variants / configurations
Fulmar X; original Fulmar requires its own baseline
Operators / programme customers
Not identified in reviewed sources

Evidence & current status

Dated manufacturer launch evidence; current production and customer acceptance remain unverified.

Fulmar X is the enhanced Fulmar surveillance aircraft presented by Thales in 2016. The launch description identifies a carbon-fibre fixed-wing platform intended for both land and maritime operation, with catapult launch and net recovery. A shipborne operating concept does not change its classification: the vehicle operates in the air.

The manufacturer announcement provides an eight-hour-plus endurance and an operating reach above eighty kilometres. These are dated supplier claims, not evidence of a newly qualified configuration. The profile does not substitute specifications from the original Fulmar or infer that all systems called Fulmar share the same aircraft.

Sourced specifications

Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.

SpecificationReported valueContext & source
AirframeCarbon-fibre fixed wing2016 Fulmar X baseline. Source
Launch / recoveryCatapult / netLand and ship operating concept. Source
PropulsionNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
Dimensions3 m wingspanThales launch description. Source
MassNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
EnduranceMore than 8 hours2016 supplier claim. Source
RangeMore than 80 km operating reach2016 supplier claim; not established as ferry range. Source
SpeedNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
AltitudeNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
PayloadNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
SensorsNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source
Communications / navigationNot established in the reviewed public sources.Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source

Publication history

  • — Published reference update.

Suggest a correction to this entry

Follow the evidence

Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.

  1. Thales Fulmar X announcement, 12 July 2016 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer

Explore the connections

Manufacturer indexUnited Kingdom

Thales UK / U-TacS

Aircraft and programme links: Watchkeeper WK450.

Reviewed 20 Sept 2026Read
Sector

Tactical ISR

Longer observation without a large air base.

Reviewed 20 Sept 2026Read