The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has qualified the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) version of Airbus Helicopters’ U010 Aliaca tactical uncrewed aerial system. The decision clears the aircraft to enter service with the French Navy under the SMDM programme, following land and sea trials in May and June 2026. The Navy received the first two VTOL systems in September.
The Aliaca was previously qualified in its fixed-wing configuration and has been in service since 2022, operating from patrol vessels and surveillance frigates. The DGA ordered 34 systems, each comprising two drones; eight are to be equipped with the VTOL variant. The new configuration is intended for BSAM metropolitan support and assistance vessels and BSAOM overseas support and assistance vessels, including those operating in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.
The qualification campaign was conducted with the French Navy. Airbus says the Aliaca variants share a ground control station and operating system, allowing crews to transition between configurations. The existing fixed-wing aircraft has also flown search-and-rescue missions in the English Channel since 2023. No specific operational-entry date beyond qualification was provided.