France orders six Airbus VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems
The order represents a major milestone in the development of the remotely piloted helicopter, which will be sold in both military and civilian configurations
The French General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) has placed an order with Airbus for the supply of six VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems, to be operated from 2028 by the French Navy.
The order is a significant milestone in the two organizations’ long-standing collaboration in developing the uncrewed helicopters. It follows a series of extensive test flights, including at sea, that have been ongoing since 2020.
The six remotely piloted helicopters, which are based on the Guimbal Cabri G2, will be delivered in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They feature a surveillance radar, an electro-optical system, and an automatic identification system (AIS) receiver.
The VSR700 will eventually be available in both military and civilian variants, and is designed for a wide range of operations. As well as ISR, it can be used for logistics and as an armed scout, as well as for firefighting and disaster relief.
“We are honored that the French Ministry for the Armed Forces has decided to launch the next phase of the VSR700 program with serial production for France and future export customers within the frame of the agreement signed at the Paris Air Show in 2025,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.