“French Navy’s Frigate Showcases Cutting-Edge UAS Trials on the Open Seas”

Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, in conjunction with the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA – Direction générale de l’armement) and the French Navy, have evaluated the SDAM demonstrator (Système de Drone Aérien Marin/Naval Aerial Drone System) from a multi-role frigate (FREMM). The assessments occurred aboard the French Navy frigate, Provence, in the Mediterranean Sea from the 2nd to the 9th of October. The vessel had previously been fitted by Naval Group to facilitate the SDAM’s operation. These maritime evaluations were organized to showcase the system’s superior capabilities from an operational warship and the SDAM’s proficiency for surveillance and intelligence operations.

“We take great pride in witnessing the advancement of the SDAM and the VSR700,” remarked Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The solution we aim to provide will be capable of functioning from a frigate and will be customized for the naval missions it is intended for,” he continued. “By collaborating with Naval Group and other regional partners, we are developing a robust and sovereign solution. I eagerly anticipate further showcasing the potential of our system and working with the French Navy to deliver an initial operational capability by 2026.”

“We are extremely satisfied with the success of these evaluations, which represent a significant milestone in enhancing the future capabilities of the French Navy. We have achieved an important milestone concerning the complexities of integrating an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on board a heavily armed vessel, both physically and operationally,” stated Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group. “These assessments have also affirmed the relevance of the Naval Group I4Drones® mission framework and illustrated that the SDAM demonstrator can be seamlessly integrated aboard a vessel, functioning harmoniously with other existing systems. In synergy with the ship’s combat network and the onboard helicopter, the drone will provide additional access to supplementary airspaces and will genuinely serve as a remote sensor to enhance the crew’s situational awareness and threat management in real time.”

The derisking study for the SDAM initiative was entrusted to Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group by the DGA. The aim is to conceive, manufacture, and test a rotary-wing unmanned aerial system demonstrator for the French Navy. The system operates with the Airbus Helicopters VSR700 unmanned aerial solution and the I4Drones® mission system devised by Naval Group. Naval Group has also been assigned with the integration of the system aboard military vessels. The project additionally includes French SMEs such as Hélicoptères Guimbal and Diades, contributing to the establishment of a local naval UAS industry in France.