The French Navy has become the first operator of Airbus’s Aliaca Vertical Take-Off and Landing unmanned aircraft system, a move that enhances its maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities.
The Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has ordered a total of 34 of these systems through Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary, Survey Copter, with deliveries of the new VTOL-configured Aliaca set to begin in May 2026 following a qualification campaign.
The Aliaca VTOL is a small tactical UAS designed to support faster decision-making and more responsive operations. It offers high flexibility through its ability to take off and land vertically like a multirotor drone, yet transition to efficient fixed-wing flight once airborne. This hybrid capability expands where and how the system can be deployed, particularly in maritime environments where traditional runway space is unavailable
Equipped with a gyro-stabilised electro-optical/infrared sensor and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) capable of identifying vessels at significant ranges, the Aliaca provides crucial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support. It has already been tested both on land and at sea during trials at the end of 2024 and throughout 2025, demonstrating its operational maturity.
The French Navy has successfully operated earlier versions of the Aliaca from both ships and shore locations since 2022, where it has contributed to maritime domain awareness, coastal surveillance, search and rescue, and monitoring of illegal activities. The VTOL variant retains the same proven architecture as the fixed-wing version, including the same ground control station, but now offers easier launch and recovery without auxiliary systems.
As the Aliaca VTOL enters operational status, it is expected to further strengthen France’s naval UAS capabilities and support broader maritime security and situational awareness missions worldwide.
Source: Airbus