A New Horizon in Defense: Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters Launch Groundbreaking Rotary-Wing Drone for Warships
The DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has recently awarded a contract for technological advancement in the area of rotary-wing drones to the Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters consortium. This agreement involves risk assessment studies prior to the creation of a future tactical helicopter drone prototype for naval operations. The demonstration initiative will enable trials of the drone launch system, mission capabilities, and airborne vehicle executions from a French Navy vessel.
The goal of the contract granted by the DGA is to identify, implement, and assess the crucial technologies necessary for integrating a tactical drone system within a heavily armed ship. This takes place as part of the preparations for the SDAM (Navy Airborne Drone System), which is anticipated to be operational by the mid-next decade on new Intermediate-Size Frigates (FTIs) and other French Navy vessels.
The study will aid in selecting vital technologies for the SDAM and identifying the technical risks related to initiating and executing the program. The desired level of technological readiness involves demonstrating the complete system in a relevant environment.
Naval Group, a leading European entity in naval defense, alongside Airbus Helicopters, the foremost global manufacturer of helicopters, will leverage their combined expertise in maritime and aeronautical domains to develop the future rotary-wing drone system for the French Navy.
The integration of aerial drones into naval operations requires extensive experience in managing technical and operational challenges, in addition to the Navy’s missions to define robust and evolving system architectures that cater to all necessities.
Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters will collaboratively manage the industrial project, coordinating broader contributions from the French industry. Thus, they will act as the design authority for the program, including Hélicoptères GUIMBAL, Thales Systèmes Aéroportés, Safran E&S, and ONERA as their primary subcontractors.
Twelve years of expertise in integrating aerial drones into naval operations
For Naval Group, drones work in conjunction with the vessel’s combat system, and their operations consider input from sensors and the tactical situation provided by the combat management system. Serving as a genuine tactical edge, the drone is an integral component of the warship, enhancing the operational capabilities of naval forces.
Hervé Guillou, President and CEO of Naval Group, stated: “We are pleased to have been selected by the DGA alongside our long-standing partner Airbus Helicopters, allowing the French Navy to integrate aerial drone systems into its operations and enhance its operational capabilities. This study also enables us to structure a world-class industrial sector in this domain. Naval Group thus reaffirms its potential for innovation and technical expertise in naval systems, along with its comprehensive role in the architecture of warships within the aero-naval sector.”
Naval Group commenced its efforts toward the integration of aerial drones in 2005. The DGA has since awarded several study contracts, advancing the development of this technology (R&D contract IND, R&D contract D2AD, Serval).
VSR700, a versatile and resilient solution
Developed on an innovative, versatile, robust, and cost-effective helicopter platform, the VSR700 drone system is being created by Airbus Helicopters to provide its military clients with the best combination of multi-role efficiency, dependability, and operating costs. This 700-kg drone, derived from the light civilian helicopter Cabri G2, utilizes Airbus Helicopters’ expertise in certified autonomous flight systems and naval helicopters. An autonomous flight campaign began in June 2017 using a unmanned Cabri G2 prototype to validate the integration of flight control systems and the advanced engine system of the vehicle, leading to the initial flight of the VSR700 in 2018.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to the DGA and the French Navy for the trust they have placed in the VSR700 drone, which, due to the collaborative expertise of Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, is expected to play a crucial role in the future’s aero-maritime operational theaters,” declared Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
The VSR700 can achieve over 10 hours of operational flight autonomy with a payload capacity of up to 150 kg, demonstrating performance levels that have traditionally been associated with much larger aircraft. The system will benefit from all the expertise of Airbus Helicopters regarding automated flight control (ensuring unique automatic deck-landing capability in rough sea conditions), autonomous navigation systems, secure data links, sensor integration including radar and optronic systems, the management of complex missions, and military aircraft certification. This extensive experience, accumulated over 70 years, allows Airbus Helicopters to create a drone system that precisely meets the requirements of the French Navy. The aerial vehicle features low maintenance needs and strong synergies with existing logistical frameworks of ships, thereby minimizing support and operational costs, while its compact size is compatible with concurrent operations of onboard helicopters across various surface vessels.
