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France progresses naval drone efforts with latest VSR700 testing

31st January 2023 - 17:30 GMT | by Harry Lye in London

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The SDAM demonstrator aircraft in flight. (Photo: DGA)

The programme's next phase will see the Airbus VTOL drone operating from a French Navy frigate.

France has demonstrated the technical capabilities of the Airbus VSR700 rotary-wing UAS as part of risk-reduction work on its SDAM programme.

Last December, a test flight campaign was conducted from the French DGA' procurement agency's missile testing site on the Ile du Levant.

Risk reduction work worth €100 million ($108 million) aims to clear the way to produce a maritime UAS that will operate from French Navy ships.

From 7 to 15 December, the SDAM demonstrator, based on the VSR-700 drone derived from the Cabri G2 light helicopter, undertook five flights totalling nine hours of operations.

The test series brings

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Author

Harry Lye

Harry Lye was Senior Naval Reporter at Shephard Media.

Harry joined the company in 2021, …

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