Скачать или смотреть The French Navy’s “Remote Binoculars” Got an Upgrade — Aliaca VTOL Is Here

France just upgraded its naval “eyes in the sky”—and it’s a bigger deal than it sounds. French Navy is set to receive a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) version of Airbus’ Aliaca uncrewed aerial system under the SMDM program, after a contract amendment approved by Directorate General of Armament (DGA). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in May 2026 following qualification, and that timeline alone tells you this isn’t a science project—it’s a fleet-ready capability.

So what’s the real upgrade? Shipboard operations. Fixed-wing drones can be excellent, but the launch and recovery circus (gear, deck space, crew workload, sea-state headaches) limits when and where you can actually use them. VTOL removes a huge chunk of that friction—meaning faster launch, easier recovery, and more ships that can operate the system without turning the flight deck into a logistics puzzle.

Aliaca VTOL keeps the core value: maritime surveillance and situational awareness with EO/IR sensors plus AIS for tracking and identifying vessels—exactly what you want for maritime traffic monitoring, coastal surveillance, counter-illegal activity, and search-and-rescue support, including demanding environments like the English Channel. Endurance and range are sized for tactical work, not continent-hopping—and that’s the point: cheaper, faster, more routine “eyes” that help commanders decide faster.

In this video, we break down what Aliaca VTOL changes for warships, why removing launch/recovery gear is a strategic win, and how this kind of practical drone evolution quietly reshapes maritime security missions.