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UK and France signal shift to autonomous helicopters to boost naval power

16th January 2026 - 16:50 GMT | by Eleanor Harvey in Manchester, UK

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The VSR700 could be integrated with the French Navy’s Aquitaine-class FREMM frigates and Admiral Ronarc’h-class FDI frigates. (Photo: Airbus)

Recent developments in France and the UK highlight how autonomous helicopters are becoming central to naval force design as navies seek to integrate crewed and uncrewed systems at sea.

As navies continue to adapt their strategies and develop hybrid capabilities to derisk maritime operations, with rising budgets for uncrewed and autonomous systems and crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T) platforms, autonomous helicopters are becoming increasingly essential to force structures.

Following a contract award this week for an undisclosed sum – which Shephard Defence Insight research estimates could be US$28.8 million – the French Navy is set to receive six VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems from 2028 under the navy’s systèmes de drone aérien de la marine (SDAM) programme.

Manufactured by Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, the VSR700 will be used by the navy for

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