France signs framework agreement for Airbus VSR700 maritime UAS program

The French Ministry of Defence has signed a framework agreement with Paris-based Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group for the future acquisition of the Systèmes de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM: uncrewed aerial systems for the Navy). The agreement also paves the way for cooperation with other nations via government-to-government agreements.

The announcement by Airbus Helicopters didn’t say how many SDAMs would be acquired.

Each SDAM will feature an Airbus VSR700 Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS), operated with Naval Group’s Steeris Mission System. Naval Group is also responsible for integrating the SDAMs onto French Navy frigates, says Airbus.

“This framework agreement is a key milestone for the VSR700 program,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “With our partners we have demonstrated the VSR700’s capabilities at sea with multiple demonstrations including one on board a French Navy frigate,” he added.  “Furthermore, with this programme we are building a local and sovereign UAS ecosystem that will benefit both our home nations and our partners across the globe,” he explained. “VSR700 is a truly versatile system that could be used in many different environments as evidenced by the armed scout version on display at the Paris Air Show.”

The framework agreement lays the groundwork for inclusion of further partner nations into the program. Other nations across the world have been officially invited by the French Armament Directorate General (DGA) to join the programme.

The serial VSR700s that will be delivered to the French Navy will be equipped for surveillance and intelligence missions, like the VSR700 prototypes that have been tested so far to develop the SDAM. This configuration includes a radar, an electro-optical system and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. The VSR700 has been developed to both take off and land automatically from a navy vessel in rough sea conditions, in a dense electromagnetic environment while carrying three sensors and flying for more than eight hours.