A Sevilla-based drone company is scaling fast by expanding its military arm just as Europe accelerates its rearmament and rethinks its reliance on the US for security.
Paintec, a manufacturer of unmanned aircraft certified by Spain’s aviation authority (AESA), has carved out two new subsidiaries: FAS Robotics for defence clients and Gridflight for civilian use.
The move comes alongside a €1 million investment to industrialise production at its La Negrilla plant in Sevilla, shifting from handcrafted builds to scalable manufacturing.
‘Serial production will allow us to scale the business,’ said CEO and co-founder Jose Manuel Ruiz.
A continent rearming
Across Europe, defence spending is rising sharply amid ongoing tensions with Russia following the war in Ukraine, fears over long-term security stability, and growing uncertainty over the future role of the US in European defence.
While Washington remains NATO’s backbone, political shifts and repeated warnings from US leaders about Europe needing to ‘do more’ for its own security have accelerated a strategic rethink in Brussels and across member states.
The result is a push for greater European defence autonomy – investing in homegrown technology, strengthening industrial capacity and reducing dependence on US military systems.
Companies like Paintec are emerging in that space.
From agriculture to defence
Founded in 2014 by Ruiz and Cristian Aldaz, the firm initially focused on precision agriculture. But since relocating to Sevilla in 2023 – following investment from Trade Sherry Ventures – it has expanded aggressively into defence markets.
Its flagship drone, the PL500, is a hybrid VTOL system capable of vertical take-off and landing without a runway.
With a wingspan of 3.8 metres and a payload capacity of 15kg, it is designed for both civilian and military applications.
That dual-use capability has helped it break into international markets.
Shift towards tactical drones
More striking is its latest development: a tactical backpack drone system unveiled in Germany.
The kit, weighing just 4kg, includes four FPV drones and goggles. These are designed as single-use systems, carrying explosive payloads and self-destructing on impact.
‘They are built for precision targeting of vehicles or infrastructure,’ Ruiz said.
It’s a clear signal of the market heading towards cheaper, highly mobile, expendable drone systems that have proven decisive in modern conflicts.
Demand driven by geopolitics
The war in Ukraine has transformed drone warfare from a niche capability into a central pillar of modern military strategy – and demand is surging.
Paintec has already sold 25 fixed-wing military drones to countries including Nigeria, Mauritania and Ethiopia, while also working with the Spanish Navy and participating in NATO’s REPMUS unmanned systems exercise.
With NATO countries ramping up defence budgets, companies able to deliver adaptable, lower-cost systems are increasingly in demand.
Civil arm still expanding
Despite its defence push, Paintec continues to grow its civilian division.
Through Gridflight, its drones are used across Spain for forest monitoring, solar panel inspection, telecom infrastructure checks and gas detection in sewers.
Iberdrola is using them to clean wind turbines, while ports deploy drone swarms for cargo analysis and volume measurement.
Growth ambitions
The company reached break-even in 2024 and doubled revenue to €2 million in 2025. It now expects to hit €6 million this year.
With plans to expand its workforce and launch a new multi-million euro funding round in the second half of 2026, Paintec is positioning itself at the intersection of two major trends: the civilian drone boom and Europe’s rapid military reset.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
