Revolutionizing Warfare: Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters Unveil the First Rotary-Wing Drone Prototype for Naval Vessels
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The DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has recently granted a contract for technological advancement in the realm of rotary-wing drones to the Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters consortium. This contract entails risk mitigation studies preceding the development of a future tactical helicopter drone demonstrator onboard naval vessels. The demonstration initiative will pave the way for trials of the drone launch system, mission capability, and airborne vehicle, executed from a French Navy ship.
The objective of the agreement conferred by the DGA is to identify, deploy, and evaluate the essential technologies required for the incorporation of a tactical drone-system capability within a heavily armed ship. This forms a component of the preparations for the SDAM (Navy Airborne Drone System), expected to be operational by the mid-next decade on new Intermediate-Size Frigates (FTIs) and other vessels of the French Navy.
The investigation will facilitate the selection of key technologies for the SDAM and the recognition of the technical risks needed for commencing and implementing the program. The desired level of technological readiness is that of a demonstrator of the complete system in a representative setting.
Naval Group, a European leader in naval defense, and Airbus Helicopters, the foremost manufacturer of helicopters globally, will thus merge their complementary expertise and skill sets in the maritime and aeronautic domains to prepare the future rotary-wing drone system for the French Navy.
The naval integration of aerial drones necessitates substantial experience regarding technical and operational obstacles, alongside the Navy’s missions to define robust and evolutionary system architectures that address every requirement.
Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters will jointly oversee the industrial project management and will coordinate broader contributions from the French industry/sector. For this reason, Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters will serve as the design authority for the program and will include Hélicoptères GUIMBAL, Thales Systèmes Aéroportés, Safran E&S, and ONERA as their primary subcontractors.
Twelve years of expertise in the naval integration of aerial drones
For Naval Group, drones interface with the vessel’s combat system, and their missions are operated with consideration of information from sensors and the tactical situation of reference from the combat management system. Representing a genuine tactical advantage, the drone is an inherent component of the warship, allowing enhanced operational capabilities for naval forces.
Hervé Guillou, President and CEO of Naval Group, articulates: “We are honored to have been chosen by the DGA alongside our longstanding collaborator Airbus Helicopters, enabling the French Navy to integrate aerial drone systems into its units and bolster its operational capabilities. This study also allows us to structure a globally leading industrial sector in this domain. Naval Group thus affirms its potential for innovation and technical mastery of naval systems and its comprehensive role in the architecture of warships within the aero-naval domain.”
Naval Group initiated efforts toward the naval integration of aerial drones in 2005. The DGA has awarded various study contracts since then, leading to the development of this technology (R&D contract IND, R&D contract D2AD, Serval).
VSR700, a versatile and resilient solution
Built on an innovative, versatile, robust, and cost-effective helicopter platform, the VSR700 drone system is being developed by Airbus Helicopters to deliver its military clients the optimal combination of multi-role efficiency, reliability, and operating expenses. This 700-kg drone, derived from a light civilian helicopter, the Cabri G2, leverages the technical expertise of Airbus Helicopters in certified autonomous flight systems and naval helicopters. An autonomous flight campaign commenced in June 2017 using an unmanned Cabri G2 prototype to validate the integration of the flight control systems and the vehicle’s advanced engine system, paving the way for the initial flight of the VSR700 in 2018.
“I would like to express gratitude to the DGA and the French Navy for the confidence they have placed in the VSR700 drone, which, due to the combined expertise of Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the aero-maritime operational theaters of the future,” declared Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
The VSR700 can achieve over 10 hours of operational flight autonomy with a payload capability of up to 150 kg, showcasing performance levels that have, until now, been associated with aircraft of a significantly larger category and size. The system will benefit from all the expertise of Airbus Helicopters regarding automated flight control (ensuring a 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 mission systems, and military aircraft certification. This expertise, rooted in a legacy spanning over 70 years, empowers Airbus Helicopters to develop a drone system that precisely satisfies the needs of the French Navy. The aerial vehicle boasts low maintenance needs and strong synergistic links with the existing logistical footprint of ships, thus minimizing support and operational costs, while its compact dimensions are compatible with the concurrent operation of onboard helicopters across various surface vessels.
