French Navy to deploy VTOL drones on support vessels from late 2026

The French Navy plans to introduce the vertical-takeoff-and-landing version of Airbus Helicopters’ U010 Aliaca drone aboard metropolitan support and assistance vessels from late 2026. The aircraft provides organic maritime surveillance from ships with limited aviation facilities, avoiding the launch and net-recovery arrangements used by the earlier configuration. Navy assessments indicate preparation takes only minutes and the new recovery method permits operations in sea conditions that would previously have prevented safe retrieval. The announcement concerns a planned shipboard deployment rather than completed fleet-wide fielding, extending the auxiliary vessels’ ability to observe surrounding waters with an embarked uncrewed aircraft.