The aim was to demonstrate the system performance from an operational warship and its surveillance and intelligence capabilities

Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, together with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) and the French Navy, have tested the Naval Aerial Drone System (SDAM demonstrator) from a multi-mission frigate (FREMM) between 2 and 9 November in the Mediterranean Sea.

The sea trial objective was to demonstrate the system performance on an operational warship and the SDAM capabilities for surveillance and intelligence missions. The final aim is to produce a rotary wing VTOL-capable UAV with a payload capacity of 100kg and a range of up to 185km and improve France’s naval capabilities.

The trials took place on board the French Navy frigate Provence, which Naval Group had previously adapted to operate the demonstrator.

The system works with the Airbus Helicopters VSR700 unmanned aerial system and the I4Drones mission system developed by Naval Group, which has also been tasked with integrating the system onboard military vessels. The project also involves French SMEs like Hélicoptères Guimbal and Diades.

“We are proud to see that the SDAM and the VSR700 are maturing,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The system that we will offer will be able to operate from a frigate and be adapted to the naval missions it was designed for,” he added. “Working alongside Naval Group and other local partners, we are building a robust and sovereign solution. I look forward to further demonstrating the potential of our system and to collaborating with the French Navy […] to offer an initial operational capability by 2026.”

“We are very happy with the success of these trials, which mark a major step in the reinforcement of the French Navy’s future capabilities. We have passed a significant milestone in terms of the complexity of the integration of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on board a heavily armed vessel, both physically and operationally,” said Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group. “These trials have also shown the relevance of the Naval Group I4Drones mission system and the fact that the SDAM demonstrator can seamlessly be integrated on a vessel and will work harmoniously with other existing systems. In synergy with the ship’s combat system and the embarked helicopter, the drone will be another means to access complementary airspaces and will truly be a remote sensor that will expand the crew’s perception and treatment of threats in real-time.”