French Navy orders six VSR700 drones
The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group for the production of six VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems.
The VSR700 is a dual use uncrewed aerial system, based on the crewed Cabri G2 from Hélicoptères Guimbal.
The naval military version was developed and tested in the frame of the French Navy and DGA SDAM (Système de drone aérien de la Marine) programme, in cooperation with Naval Group.
According to Airbus, VSR700 and its mission system have been extensively tested over land and at sea. Often deployed in complement of a crewed helicopter, the VSR700 can be used to extend a vessel’s intelligence gathering capabilities and conduct long endurance surveillance missions.
The VSR700 will be delivered in an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) configuration comprising a surveillance radar, an electro-optical system, and an automatic identification system (AIS) receiver.
Naval Group will ensure its integration into the overall architecture of the ships and its interconnection with the combat system, thanks to the Steeris mission system, Airbus added.
The VSR700 can accommodate a variety of long-range, high-performance sensors. Although it will be used in an ISR configuration by the French Navy, the VSR700 is a multirole UAS that can be used for a variety of missions, including logistics and armed scout both in a maritime and a land environment.
It can also be used for civil missions, including firefighting and disaster relief. Airbus has also demonstrated the VSR700’s ability to team with crewed helicopters using the HTeaming solution.
“We are honored that the French Ministry for the Armed Forces has decided to launch the next phase of the VSR700 programme with serial production for France and future export customers within the frame of the agreement signed at the Paris Air Show in 2025. Airbus Helicopters is fully committed to delivering this much-needed operational capability. Our teams are focused on providing the French Navy with a reliable, high-performance tool that enhances their sovereignty and mission success,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
“To ensure the success of this next chapter, we have established a new industrial setup specifically designed for serial production. This structure allows us to adapt to the specificities of the UAS market and to scale efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of aeronautical safety and performance,” he concluded.
The drones will be operated by the French Navy from 2028.
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