- The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has signed two major contracts with Naval Group and Airbus Helicopters as part of the “Navy Air Drone System” (SDAM) program , which aims to equip the French Navy with embarked tactical air drones.
- The first contract was signed on December 29, 2025 with Naval Group and concerns the acquisition and integration on frigates of a light naval drone reconnaissance capability with CAMCOPTER® S-100 F drones.
- The second contract was signed on December 30, 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 to various areas of naval air operations and provide autonomous tactical situation assessment capabilities, keeping manned aircraft out of the way of threats.
Acquisition of CAMCOPTER® S-100 F drones
The first contract aims to acquire a lightweight vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone capability, based on the CAMCOPTER® S-100F drone produced by Schiebel and already in service on the French amphibious assault ships (PHA). The S-100 system extends ship surveillance capabilities beyond the horizon and enables operational missions with a flight endurance of approximately six hours and a maximum payload of 50 kg . The contract stipulates the supply by Naval Group of five CAMCOPTER® S-100F aerial drone systems, as well as solutions for their physical and functional integration onto the French Navy’s multi-mission frigates. The drones will be equipped with a wide-field optical sensor and a gyrostabilized optronic turret. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.
Acquisition of six VSR700 aerial drones
The VSR700 is a multi-mission, long-endurance rotary-wing drone system developed by Airbus Helicopters in collaboration with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs. The aircraft is derived from and adapted from the Cabri G2 certified light helicopter built by the French SME Hélicoptères Guimbal. It has an endurance of 8 hours and can carry a payload of up to 220 kg. It will be equipped with a French maritime patrol radar from DIADES and a gyrostabilized optronic turret.
This contract is part of the framework agreement signed at the Paris Air Show 2025 at Le Bourget. These aircraft will be progressively integrated onto the fleet replenishment ships and will thus support the naval air group, formed around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
