Tactical UAS Portfolio Consolidated to Streamline Defence and Security Offerings

The Airbus Helicopters division will now manage the company’s small and medium tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) portfolio, streamlining products from Survey Copter, Aliaca, and Capa-X.

This consolidation aims to deliver a focused market approach for defence and security customers across both the Helicopters and Defence and Space divisions.

UAS provide essential, real-time capabilities for diverse missions, offering high-resolution sensing for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and long-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). This benefits naval and expeditionary forces while also supporting target acquisition on the battlefield. UAS can also support parapublic missions where surveillance is required, such as firefighting and law enforcement.

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated, “By incorporating Aliaca and Capa-X into our UAS portfolio, we are building a cohesive family of products and solidifying Airbus’ position as a market leader in the tactical drone segment. With this move, we are setting up a centre of excellence that consolidates a comprehensive and complementary portfolio of UAS and facilitates synergies across the teams working to develop and support them. It will also accelerate the cooperation between drones and helicopters thanks to our HTeaming solution.”

Based in Pierrelatte in the South of France, Survey Copter has been designing, producing and maintaining light tactical drone systems since 1996. The company specialises in light drone systems for both civil and military applications, and has sold over 300 UAS to national and international customers since its creation. 

The newly diversified portfolio of tactical drones is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern defence. The Aliaca is a 25 kg UAS capable of carrying up to 3 kg of equipment for six hours, serving as a robust imagery tool that enhances reconnaissance and decision-making. The Flexrotor is a 25 kg UAS that can carry up to 8 kg of equipment for 12 to 14 hours, making it suitable for long-endurance missions.

For increased flexibility, the Capa-X is a 120 kg UAS capable of carrying up to 20 kg of equipment, designed as a highly adaptable system for various missions and terrains. Additionally, the VSR700 is a 760 kg multi-mission drone with a discreet design, specifically developed for demanding maritime, cargo, and combat roles. This range of uncrewed systems provides customers with cutting-edge capabilities for surveillance, intelligence, and operational flexibility.

Complementing this consolidated portfolio, the Airbus Defence and Space division continues to develop and offer a wide variety of multi-mission UAS technologies and services. This includes the Eurodrone, a new generation large long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system designed to bolster European defence and strategic sovereignty; the high-end tactical UAS SIRTAP, for day and night ISR missions over land and sea; the solar-electric stratospheric Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS); and aerial target drones.

Airbus has also developed crewed-uncrewed teaming solutions allowing aircraft and helicopter crews to take full control of UAS in flight. Crewed-uncrewed teaming offers additional mission capabilities by extending sensor range far beyond the aircraft’s line of sight, preserving them for the essential missions that only they can perform.