Airbus eyes Japan for VSR 700 VTOL UAV

At the 2025 version of the DSEI Japan exhibit, Jet showcased a full-blown design of its VSR 700 upright liftoff and touchdown (VTOL) unmanned airborne car (UAV), underscoring the business’s dreams to welcome Japan to the program.

An Airplane Japan agent informed Naval Information that the European business is pressing to welcome Japan to join the VSR700 program. Rate of interest in this option started at Euronaval 2024– marine exhibit happening in Paris, France– where a Japanese delegation met Jet to review the issue. Ever since, conversations seem proceeding.

The agent included that viewers from the Japan Maritime Protection Pressure (JMSDF) had actually taken a trip to southerly France to witness an examination stage of the UAV. What’s even more, a letter from the French protection purchase company (DGA) has actually supposedly been officially sent out to the Japan Procurement Innovation & Logistics Company (ATLA) and the Japanese Ministry of Protection, proclaiming the UAV’s included worth and welcoming them to sign up with the program.

According to the last, the VSR 700 can be a suitable system for running from big surface area fighters along with the SH-60K helicopter. Both airplane can evidently both be stored in the garage without entering each various other’s means. The Japanese are stated to be especially thinking about the VSR 700’s ASW haul and raising freight capability. The design was come with by an ASW shuck for holding 10 G-size sonobuoys.

For the document, the VSR 700 has actually been picked as the demonstrator for the for the French Navy’s “Système de Drone Aérien put la Marine” or SDAM program. According to the 2019-2025 French armed forces preparation legislation (LPM), 15 SDAM systems were readied to be provided to the French Navy from 2028. Nonetheless, complying with the upgraded LPM in 2024 the program is postponed, target is currently for 8 systems from 2030 to get to the targets of 15 systems in 2035. As currently reported by Naval News, the French Navy Principal of Team highlighted that although the program appears appealing, it is not anticipated to be in solution quickly. The French Navy is also taking into consideration various other choice for SDAM, consisting of Schiebel’ S100 which are currently in-service and the under-development (and bigger) S300.

Also if the French MoD proceeds formally to advertise the VSR 700 program and to sustain Jet in its wish to export it, the residential battles of the program can inhibit the Japanese authorities from obtaining entailed. VSR 700 program has yet to show itself, however an export possibility can certainly increase it.

If the VSR 700 goes into solution with the French Navy, it will certainly be released aboard the future frigate, the FDI along with the FREMM. 2 SDAM demonstrators have actually been created until now. The business associated with the program are Jet Helicopters, Naval Team and some French SMEs: Specifically Hélicoptères Guimbal, which creates the Cabri G2 helicopter, where the SDAM is obtained.

The VSR 700 can be with the ability of ISR, SAR, ASW and possibly light fire assistance goals at the end of its growth. The UAV made its maiden flight in 2019 and carried out automated launch and touchdown examinations from a private marine system in 2022, and comparable examinations once more this time around aboard a French Navy frigate in 2023, simply over a year behind timetable.

The VSR 700 has an optimum liftoff weight in between 500 and 1,000 kg, Jet mentioned. The VSR700 abilities are not formally recognized, however is anticipated to “instantly land and liftoff, fly for 10 hours at 100 Nm and lug 100 kilos of haul, i.e. radar and optronics”.

The article Airbus eyes Japan for VSR 700 VTOL UAV showed up initially on Naval News.