Naval News recently visited the Airbus Helicopters site in AixenProvence to learn about the VSR700, the future vertical take off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). Nicolas Delmas, VSR700 program director, answered our questions.

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The VSR700 has been selected as the demonstrator for the for the French Navy’s “Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine” or SDAM programme. According to the French military planning law (LPM), 15 SDAM systems are set to be delivered to the French Navy from 2028. They will be deployed aboard the future frigates of the French Navy, the FDI as well as the FREMM.

The VSR700 made its maiden flight on November 8. 2019 at the AixenProvence drone test center (south of France). Several test captive flights were successfully performed on an enhanced version of the UAV.

The VSR700 fits right between the CAMCOPTER by Schiebel and the MQ8C Firescout by Northrop Grumman. It has a maximum takeoff weight between 500 and 1000 kg, Airbus stated. The VSR700 capabilities are not publicly disclosed, but the UAV is expected to "automatically land and takeoff, fly for ten hours at 100 Nm and carry 100 kilos of payload" such as radar, optronics and even sonobuoys.

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