The French Ministry for the Armed Forces has signed a framework agreement with Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group for the acquisition and integration of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into the French Navy’s frigates under the SDAM (Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine) program.
The agreement, signed by Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, and Naval Group EVP Marie-Laure Bourgeois, covers the delivery of the Airbus VSR700 drone, integrated with Naval Group’s Steeris® Mission System. Naval Group will also oversee the deployment of the systems aboard naval vessels.
The VSR700, currently displayed in its armed scout configuration at the Paris Air Show, is a rotary-wing UAS designed for naval operations. It can perform automatic take-off and landing in rough sea conditions and in electromagnetically congested environments. Equipped with radar, electro-optical sensors, and an AIS receiver, the system is intended for surveillance and intelligence missions. Its endurance exceeds eight hours.
Test campaigns, including flights from the French Navy’s FREMM frigate La Provence, have demonstrated the drone’s capabilities at sea. The SDAM programme has been in development for over 15 years, culminating in a solution tailored for integration into naval combat systems.
The agreement opens the door to future international cooperation. The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has invited other partner nations to join the programme, allowing them to procure a similar configuration via government-to-government agreements.