The French Navy will be the first operator of the VTOL version of the Aliaca drone, developed by Airbus Helicopters, after the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) authorized the inclusion of the new configuration in the SMDM program.
Deliveries are expected to begin in May 2026, following a land and sea qualification campaign. Since 2022, the French government has already acquired 34 Aliaca systems for naval use.
The new version retains the fixed-wing airframe already used by the Navy but adds four propellers that enable vertical takeoff and landing, eliminating the need for rails, catapults, or recovery systems. This reduces logistical requirements and increases the number of vessels capable of operating the system, while maintaining the same control station and sensors already in use.
With a maximum weight of 25 kg, a wingspan of 3.5 meters, and endurance of up to two hours, the Aliaca VTOL can operate within a 50 km radius. The drone is equipped with a camera, a stabilized electro-optical and infrared sensor, and an AIS system capable of identifying vessels at long distances, enhancing maritime surveillance and situational awareness both at sea and during coastal operations.
Currently described by the French Navy as its “remote binoculars,” the SMDM already equips patrol vessels and surveillance frigates, in addition to supporting search and rescue missions in the English Channel. With the arrival of the VTOL version, the system can be employed on new classes of vessels and, in the future, integrated into the French coastal surveillance network, expanding its range of missions against illegal activities and in monitoring maritime traffic.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @AirbusHeli | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
A new version of the SMDM, the Aliaca vertical uncrewed aerial system was tested on land & at sea in 2024 and 2025. The VTOL version will bring more flexibility to the French Navy.
Deliveries of this new version will begin this year following a qualification campaign. https://t.co/asfVFnSM1n— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHeli) February 3, 2026
