France has selected the Aliaca VTOL uncrewed aerial system, placing the order through Survey Copter, an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary, to enhance naval surveillance and situational awareness.
Designated SMDM, the VTOL version was developed in less than 12 months, drawing on a fixed-wing Aliaca already in service with the French Navy. Unveiled in April 2025, the system is scheduled for delivery starting in May 2026, making France the first navy to operate the VTOL variant.
The order supplements previous acquisitions of 34 fixed-wing Aliaca systems placed since 2022.
Aliaca is widely used by the French Navy as a maritime surveillance tool, deployed from patrol vessels and frigates. It has also been used ashore since 2023 to support search-and-rescue operations along the English Channel.
The VTOL configuration expands mission flexibility by allowing operations from vessels without dedicated launch and recovery equipment, as well as from land bases. The four-propeller design enables vertical take-off and landing, followed by forward flight during the mission.
With a 25-kilogram maximum take-off weight, 3.5-meter wingspan, and two-hour endurance, the system operates within a 50-kilometer radius. Its payload includes an EO/IR sensor, onboard camera, and AIS receiver for long-range vessel detection.
The VTOL Aliaca uses the same ground control station already in service with the Navy, reducing training requirements while improving deployment speed and operational reach.
