The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has officially qualified the new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) variant of Airbus Helicopters’ tactical uncrewed aerial system U010 Aliaca, Airbus said in Marignane, France, on 3 November 2026. The qualification follows an exhaustive test campaign conducted on land and at sea throughout May and June 2026 in close collaboration with the French Navy.

The qualification clears the VTOL variant to enter service under the SMDM (Système de Mini-Drones embarqués pour la Marine) contract, with the first two systems already delivered to the French Navy in September. The fixed-wing configuration of the U010 Aliaca was previously DGA-qualified and has been operational since 2022 under the same contract, equipping patrol vessels and surveillance frigates, and conducting English Channel search and rescue missions since 2023.

“The DGA qualification is a major milestone and it reflects the trust placed in the performance of our technology. It also highlights the successful collaboration between our teams, the DGA, and the French Navy. This joint effort has allowed us to deliver a mature, safe, and highly capable VTOL asset, ready for immediate operational deployment,” said Victor Gerin-Roze, Head of Uncrewed Aerial Systems at Airbus Helicopters.

FLEET SCOPE AND DEPLOYMENT

Of the 34 total U010 Aliaca systems ordered by the DGA, each comprising two drones, eight systems will feature the new VTOL variant. The range shares a common Ground Control Station and operating system, which Airbus says allows French Navy crews a familiar operational environment and an intuitive, immediate transition between variants.

The VTOL variant is scheduled to equip the French Navy’s BSAM (Metropolitan Support and Assistance) and BSAOM (Overseas Support and Assistance) vessels, supporting sovereignty and maritime security missions across the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, operating from homeports in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Réunion and Martinique.