The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has signed two major contracts with Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters under the “Naval Aerial Drone System” (SDAM – Système de Drones Aériens de la Marine) program, which aims to equip the French Navy with embarked tactical aerial drones.

• The first contract was signed on 29 December 2025 with Naval Group and concerns the acquisition and integration on frigates of a light dronized naval reconnaissance capability using CAMCOPTER® S-100 F drones.

• The second contract was signed on 30 December 2025 with Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters and concerns the acquisition of six VSR700 aerial drones.

• In accordance with the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law, ten systems will be delivered to the French Navy by 2030. These aerial drones will make a significant contribution across the various domains of naval aviation operations and will provide autonomous tactical situation assessment while keeping crewed aircraft out of harm’s way.

Acquisition of CAMCOPTER® S-100 F drones

The first contract aims to acquire a light vertical takeoff drone capability based on the CAMCOPTER® S-100 F drone produced by Schiebel, which is already in service aboard French amphibious helicopter carriers (LHDs). The S-100 system makes it possible to extend a ship’s surveillance capability beyond the horizon and to conduct operational missions with a flight endurance of around six hours and a maximum payload of 50 kg.

The contract provides for Naval Group to supply five CAMCOPTER® S-100 F aerial drone systems, as well as solutions for their physical and functional integration aboard the French Navy’s multimission frigates. The drones will be equipped with a wide-field optical sensor and a gyrostabilized electro-optical turret. Deliveries are scheduled to begin as early as 2026.

Acquisition of six VSR700 aerial drones

The VSR700 is a multi-mission, long-endurance rotary-wing drone system developed by Airbus Helicopters with the support of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans. The aerial vehicle is derived from and adapted from the certified light Cabri G2 helicopter built by the French SME Hélicoptères Guimbal. It has an endurance of eight hours and can carry up to 220 kg of payload. It will be equipped with a French maritime patrol radar from DIADES and a gyrostabilized electro-optical turret.

This contract falls within the framework agreement signed at the 2025 Paris International Air Show in Le Bourget. These aircraft will be progressively integrated aboard fleet replenishment ships and will accompany the carrier strike group formed around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Source: DGA