France signs framework agreement for Airbus VSR700 programme: Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister for the Armed Forces has signed a framework agreement with Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters and Marie-Laure Bourgeois, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing of Naval Group for the future acquisition of the Systèmes de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM: uncrewed aerial systems for the Navy). The agreement also paves the way for cooperation with other nations via government to government agreements. Each SDAM will feature an Airbus VSR700 uncrewed aerial system (UAS), operated with Naval Group’s Steeris Mission System. Naval Group is also responsible for integrating the SDAMs onto French Navy frigates. As a result of 15 years of R&D experimentation and development, Steeris MS is a sea proven solution designed for naval combat system integration. The framework agreement lays the groundwork for inclusion of further partner nations into the programme. Other nations across the world have been officially invited by the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) to join the programme. Through a government to government contract they will be able to order the system in a configuration similar to the one selected by the DGA for the French Navy. The serial VSR700s that will be delivered to the French Navy will be equipped for surveillance and intelligence missions, like the VSR700 prototypes that have been tested so far to develop the SDAM. This configuration includes a radar, an electro-optical system and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. The VSR700 has been developed to both take off and land automatically from a navy vessel in rough sea conditions, in a dense electromagnetic environment while carrying three sensors and flying for more than eight hours.
First Airbus SIRTAP prototype ready to start ground tests: The assembly of the first SIRTAP prototype – Airbus’ high-performance tactical uncrewed aerial system – has concluded and the aircraft is ready to start the ground-tests campaign at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Getafe, Spain. The ground testing – comprising structural evaluations, main-systems components and software testing – is due to take place over the next months and will finish with the maiden flight, scheduled by the end of 2025 at Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology’s (INTA’s) Unmanned Systems Test Centre (CEUS) in Huelva, south-west Spain. The subsequent SIRTAP flight-test campaign at CEUS will run throughout 2026 and will be essential in obtaining the airworthiness type certification and ensure that the aircraft meets the highest safety and performance standards, leading to the delivery of the first system to Spain in 2027. In November 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence acquired nine systems, each consisting of three remotely-piloted aircraft and a ground-control station. A total of 27 drones and nine ground-control stations will reinforce the tactical capabilities of the Spanish Armed Forces. In addition, Airbus Defence and Space will supply two simulators for training Spanish operators, having already passed the Critical Design Review, which marks the completion of their architecture and design. SIRTAP represents a strategic commitment to innovation and national industrial collaboration, while offering an exportable platform thanks to its ITAR-free design. Its development and potential evolution towards different versions, such as the naval version or weapons integration, will also contribute to strengthening industrial capabilities in the field of remotely-piloted vehicles.
France and Spain renew commitment to the Airbus A400M: Airbus and OCCAR have reached an agreement with the A400M launch nations to secure production for the programme for the foreseeable future,improve the cost of operations, and jointly develop new capabilities. Through the agreement, France and Spain stated their intention to advance four and three A400M aircraft respectively in their delivery schedule. As key enablers, Airbus has committed to work on operational cost improvements through maintenance optimisation and efficiency measures, and make A400M future developments faster and more cost-effective, enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities and ensuring its strategic autonomy in air transport and mobility. Through the agreement, both Airbus and OCCAR will review the industrial status of the programme on a yearly basis, giving the A400M production set-up stability to pursue the evolution of the platform and open export opportunities. Among these new capabilities, Airbus is already looking into developments like standoff jamming, payload increase to 40 tonnes, mothership for remote carriers and firefighting – developments that will further widen the A400M applications and are key to the present and future global requirements for both current and future operators.
Thales to supply safety satcom for A400M: Airbus Defence & Space has selected Thales to supply the safety satcom system of the A400M military transport aircraft programme. The A400M is a military airlifter that combines the ability to fly to long distances, carrying loads too heavy or too large for medium airlifters. Extended connectivity is thus critical for ensuring mission success and operational effectiveness. Thales’s cockpit satcom system, the AVIATOR 700S, is the most high-performance solution on the market for pilot communication systems, providing Viasat’s SB-S services + Inmarsat for military and commercial aviation. Communication via satellite enhances capabilities in communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS). Designed to meet the rigorous demands of military, government, air transport, business, and VIP platforms, this system will deliver critical date related to flight, navigation, and performance, directly to the A400M cockpit. By expanding secure connectivity and reducing pilot workload, the Thales system boosts operational efficiency. Designed to meet the latest cockpit communication standards, Thales’s AVIATOR 700S system provides a sustainable solution to meet new requirements. This new contract significantly broadens Thales’s role in the A400M programme for which Thales already provides avionics equipment (avionics suite, head-up displays and flight control unit), mission system, tactical air navigation (TACAN), as well as the radio management system, passenger address systems, and communication and navigation antennas. This comprehensive shipset combined with training and support reflects the trust placed in Thales’s technology and expertise to meet the evolving needs of military aviation.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Kym Bergmann at kym.bergmann@venturamedia.net
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at simon.hadfield@venturamedia.net
