The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has awarded a SAIL 2 certificate for the XAG P150 Max agricultural uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), following a flightworthiness assessment conducted by Marshall Aerospace on behalf of AutoSpray Systems.
The certification marks an important development for the use of uncrewed aircraft systems in agriculture, providing independent recognition that the XAG P150 Max meets the applicable flightworthiness requirements for a SAIL 2 operation. It also enables future regulatory activities to build on assessment work that has already been completed, helping to reduce duplication for operators and technology providers.
AutoSpray Systems provides agricultural drone technology, specialist pilot training, and commercial aerial services, supported by a growing national network of certified operators across the UK. Using advanced UAS platforms for activities including spraying and spreading, the company is helping farmers improve efficiency, precision and productivity while reducing time spent on labour-intensive field operations.
"Achieving SAIL Mark certification for the XAG P150 Max is a major milestone for AutoSpray and a huge step forward for the wider agricultural UAS sector.
"Reaching this stage has required extensive technical and operational preparation. Successfully demonstrating containment to medium robustness under CAA standards is a significant technical marker that we’re particularly proud to have achieved. Marshall's professionalism and constructive approach were invaluable throughout the assessment process."
Andy Sproson
COO, AutoSpray Systems
SAIL, or Specific Assurance and Integrity Level, forms part of the CAA's risk-based framework for regulating uncrewed aircraft systems. The SAIL Mark scheme allows key flightworthiness requirements to be assessed at system level rather than repeating the same evaluations across multiple future applications. Only organisations approved by the CAA as Recognised Assessment Entities for Flightworthiness (RAE(F)s) are authorised to conduct these assessments and provide recommendations to the regulator.
Marshall Aerospace was among the first organisations in the UK to receive RAE(F) approval and now supports UAS manufacturers, operators and technology developers through independent flightworthiness assessments, certification activities and regulatory compliance services.
The P150 Max was one of five products selected in March 2026 to receive a SAIL Mark assessment from Marshall under a grant programme established by the CAA with funding from Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.
"The agricultural sector continues to demonstrate the practical value that uncrewed aircraft systems can deliver across a range of real-world applications.
"Independent assessment provides a structured route to regulatory recognition, helping organisations adopt new technologies while maintaining appropriate standards of safety and assurance."
Mark Hewer
Aero Engineering Services Director, Marshall Aerospace
The assessment considered evidence relating to maintenance arrangements, operational controls, command-and-control systems, human-machine interface characteristics, operational volume containment and flight termination functionality. Marshall concluded that the XAG P150 Max, in its assessed configuration, satisfied the applicable SAIL 2 flightworthiness requirements, informing the CAA's subsequent decision to issue the certificate.
As UAS technology becomes increasingly capable, applications such as precision agriculture are expected to play an important role in demonstrating the benefits of advanced autonomous systems. Projects such as this highlight how clear regulatory pathways and independent technical assurance can support innovation while enabling new technologies to be introduced safely into operational use.
“At XAG, we’ve spent years developing agricultural drones and farm automation solutions designed to support farmers from seeding through to harvest. Together with our UK partner, AutoSpray Systems, we secured the UK’s first CAA approval for commercial drone spraying in 2023.
“Achieving SAIL II certification demonstrates that agricultural drone technology can withstand the rigorous safety and airworthiness scrutiny expected of commercial aviation. This provides farmers, operators and regulators with greater confidence in the technology and creates a strong foundation for its wider commercial adoption. As regulation continues to evolve, agricultural drones will play an increasingly important role in the transition towards safer, more efficient and highly automated farming — alongside the wider adoption of automation and AI across agriculture.”
Justin Gong
Co-founder, XAG