France’s Directorate for Aeronautical Maintenance has ordered eight Airbus U050 Capa-X uncrewed aircraft for the French Navy and French Army, moving the tactical drone from evaluation into procurement. The deal covers four systems of two aircraft each, with deliveries scheduled for 2027 after land and sea trials under the Light Tactical Drone System programme.
The order follows an initial Capa-X system acquired at the end of 2025 and further testing with French armed forces units in 2025 and early 2026. Airbus has framed the contract as the start of the platform’s operational phase. The aircraft will initially carry an electro-optical payload for imagery intelligence and a signals intelligence package.
Airbus did not disclose the contract value. The U050 Capa-X is pitched for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target tracking, communications relay, electronic warfare and battlefield support missions, giving the company its first French military order for the platform.