France’s Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate has ordered four Airbus U050 Capa-X systems, giving the French armed forces eight drones in total after a successful evaluation programme. Two systems will equip the French Navy and two will go to the French Army under the Light Tactical Drone System programme, with deliveries scheduled for 2027.
The order follows an initial Capa-X system acquired at the end of 2025 and tested by French units in land and sea trials during 2025 and early 2026. Airbus described the platform as meeting SDTL requirements after those trials. The company did not disclose the contract value.
The U050 Capa-X is a 120 kg-class system with up to 20 kg payload capacity and a direct-data-link range of up to 100 km. Airbus also highlighted a limited logistics footprint, with the full kit transportable in two vans, and around seven hours of endurance during testing. France’s order initially includes an electro-optical payload for imagery intelligence and a signals intelligence capability.