French Navy qualifies Airbus VTOL Aliaca drone for shipboard service
France's DGA has qualified the VTOL version of the Airbus U010 Aliaca drone for naval service, enabling deployment on support vessels without launch or recovery equipment. The first two systems were delivered in September 2026, with eight VTOL-configured systems to equip vessels in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean from late 2026.
France's defence procurement agency, the DGA, has qualified the vertical take-off and landing version of the Airbus Helicopters U010 Aliaca tactical drone for French Navy service. This approval, announced as the Euronaval exhibition opened near Paris, enables immediate deployment on naval support vessels that lack catapult launch or net recovery systems.
The qualification followed a test campaign on land and at sea in May and June 2026. The VTOL variant uses four additional propellers for vertical takeoff and landing. It shares a common ground control station and operating system with the rest of the Aliaca range, a technical continuity that allows for intuitive handling by crews. Victor Gerin-Roze, Director of Drone Programmes at Airbus Helicopters, stated the drone is "ready for immediate operational deployment."
The DGA ordered 34 Aliaca systems in total. The original fixed-wing version has been in service since 2022, equipping patrol vessels and surveillance frigates. In February 2024, the agency ordered 15 additional fixed-wing systems.
Delivery schedule and operational scope
The first two VTOL systems were delivered to the Navy in September 2026. Of the 34 ordered systems, each comprising two drones, eight will be delivered in the VTOL configuration.
| Vessel Type | Deployment Start | Key Regions |
|---|---|---|
| BSAM (metropolitan support) | Late 2026 | Not specified |
| BSAOM (overseas support) | 2027 | Indo-Pacific, Caribbean |
These overseas vessels operate from home ports in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Réunion, and Martinique. The Aliaca drone portfolio was transferred to Airbus Helicopters in October 2025, having been originally developed by Airbus subsidiary Survey Copter.
Operational context and mission roles
The U010 Aliaca has been conducting search and rescue missions in the English Channel since 2023. The new VTOL variant will support maritime sovereignty and security missions in the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean. Gerin-Roze called the DGA qualification "a major milestone and reflects the confidence placed in the performance of our technologies."
In a separate naval drone contract, Airbus announced a deal with Naval Group in January 2026 to produce six VSR700 rotary-wing drones for Navy operation starting in 2028. The VTOL Aliaca will operate aboard French naval support vessels starting with BSAM deployments in late 2026.
