France has placed an order for the Aliaca uncrewed aerial system in its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) configuration through Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters.
Designated SMDM (Onboard Mini Aerial Drone Systems for the Navy), the Aliaca VTOL was developed in less than 12 months, building on a variant already operational with the French Navy. The system was officially unveiled in April 2025, with deliveries set to begin in May 2026, making France the first navy to field the VTOL version.
The order follows earlier procurements of 34 fixed-wing Aliaca UAS by the French Navy since 2022.
Often described as the Navy’s “remote binoculars,” Aliaca is currently deployed aboard high-seas and overseas patrol vessels as well as surveillance frigates. Since 2023, the system has also supported search-and-rescue operations from coastal sites along the English Channel.
The introduction of the VTOL variant will extend Aliaca’s use to a broader range of ships and missions, including tactical situational awareness and countering illegal activities. The mini-drone, equipped with four propellers, can take off and land vertically before transitioning to forward flight.
Following qualification trials scheduled for early 2026, the VTOL system is also expected to operate from land as part of France’s coastal surveillance network. With a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms, a 3.5-meter wingspan, and a 2.1-meter length, the drone can fly for up to two hours within a 50-kilometer operational radius.
The platform carries an onboard camera, a gyro-stabilized electro-optical/infrared sensor, and an automatic identification system (AIS) receiver capable of detecting vessels at long range. By eliminating the need for launch and recovery equipment, the VTOL configuration reduces logistical demands while using the same ground control station already familiar to French Navy operators.
