Airbus Helicopters announced on 3 February 2026 that France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has formally amended its ongoing SMDM contract to include a vertical take-off and landing variant of the Aliaca unmanned aircraft system for the French Navy. Ordered through Airbus Helicopters' subsidiary Survey Copter, the updated agreement makes France the first operator of the VTOL Aliaca, with deliveries scheduled to begin in May 2026 following a DGA-led qualification campaign. Read more.
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| The Aliaca VTOL is positioned as a tactical mini-drone rather than a long-endurance MALE asset (Picture source: Army Recognition) |