Airbus Helicopters‘ U010 Aliaca vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system has been qualified by France’s Armament General Directorate (DGA), clearing the system to enter service with the French Navy.
The qualification follows an extensive test campaign conducted on land and at sea during May and June 2026 in collaboration with the French Navy. The first two systems were delivered in September under the SMDM (Shipborne Mini-Drones System) contract.
The U010 Aliaca was already DGA-qualified in its original fixed-wing configuration and has been operational under the SMDM programme since 2022, equipping patrol vessels and surveillance frigates. Since 2023, it has also supported search and rescue missions in the English Channel.
Of the 34 systems ordered by the DGA, each comprising two drones, eight will feature the new VTOL configuration.
The entire U010 Aliaca range shares a common ground control station and operating system, allowing French Navy crews to work within a familiar operational environment. Airbus said this commonality would simplify training and enable a seamless transition between configurations.
The VTOL variant is also scheduled to equip the French Navy’s Metropolitan Support and Assistance (BSAM) and Overseas Support and Assistance (BSAOM) vessels. It will support maritime security and sovereignty missions across the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, operating from French bases in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Réunion and Martinique.
