US EditionFrance orders new VTOL version of Airbus’ Aliaca UAV system
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The French Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) has ordered a new version of the "SMDM" ("Système de Mini-Drone embarqué pour la Marine") to Airbus Helicopters (through its subsidiary Survey Copter). This UAS will now be delivered in the new vertical take-off and landing configuration (VTOL)....
The National Navy becomes the first global operator of Airbus's Aliaca VTOL drone. The first deliveries of the vertical take-off aircraft are scheduled for May. And it will provide many services.
Deployed since 2021 by the French Navy's surveillance frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and certain signal stations, the SMDM [Navy Mini-Drone System] has been entirely satisfactory so far. Designed by Survey Copter [a subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters], it consists of a control station and two Aliaca drones, deployable in... This article, "The DGA has ordered a VTOL version of the Navy's mini-drone system," first appeared on Zone Militaire.
French Navy to become first operator of Airbus' Aliaca vertical UAS
The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has ordered a new version of the SMDM (“Onboard Mini Aerial Drone Systems for the Navy”) from Airbus Helicopters (via its subsidiary Survey Copter). This UAS will now be delivered in the new vertical take-off and landing configuration (VTOL). The DGA has ordered a total of 34 Aliaca systems for the French Navy since 2022. Deliveries of this new version will begin in May 2026, following a qualificat
France orders new VTOL version of Airbus’ Aliaca UAV system
The French Navy will become the first operator of Airbus Helicopters’ new vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) version of the Aliaca drone system. On February 3, 2026, the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) announced it had ordered a new version of the SMDM (Onboard Mini Aerial Drone Systems for the Navy) from Airbus (via its subsidiary Survey Copter) with deliveries scheduled to begin in May 2026. The DGA has ordered a total of 34 Alia…
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