Airbus Drone Aliaca Adopts Vertical Takeoff to Expand its Tactical Capabilities at SOFINS
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At the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS), held in Bordeaux from April 1 to 3, 2025, Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, presented a new version of its light tactical drone Aliaca, now equipped with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability. Designed to meet the growing needs of land and naval forces for operational flexibility, this new configuration complements the existing range and builds on the experience acquired through deployments with the French Navy. Several successful demonstration flights were conducted in both land and maritime environments between late 2024 and early 2025. The Aliaca VTOL is now commercially available to institutional and defense customers.
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The Aliaca, developed by Survey Copter, is a light tactical unmanned aerial system intended for both civilian and military applications (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Designed for special operations and missions in environments without infrastructure, this variant combines vertical lift via four rotors with fixed-wing propulsion during flight, providing extended endurance and stable performance. The drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 27 kg, a wingspan of 3.5 meters, and a length of 2.1 meters. This dual-configuration design enables operations without dependence on launch or recovery infrastructure, which is particularly relevant in rapid deployment or constrained scenarios.
The Aliaca, developed by Survey Copter, is a light tactical unmanned aerial system intended for both civilian and military applications. It is capable of operating in restricted environments due to its compact logistical footprint, rapid 15-minute deployment time, and automated net-based recovery system. The drone can be launched from land or vessels with or without helicopter decks. Already certified and operational within the French Navy under the SMDM (Navy Mini UAS Systems) program, Aliaca is available in two main versions: the electrically powered Aliaca Evo, with a 3-hour endurance and 50 km range; and the piston-engine Aliaca ER, offering 6 hours of endurance and an 80 km range.
Adaptable to various mission profiles, Aliaca can be employed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and inspection operations across maritime, coastal, and land environments. Its ease of deployment, low acoustic and visual signature, and compatibility with light tactical vehicles such as pick-ups make it suitable for a wide range of operational scenarios. The system meets the requirements of armed forces, internal security agencies, and civilian users involved in territorial surveillance, search and rescue, crisis support, or infrastructure monitoring.
Building on the demonstrated reliability of the fixed-wing Aliaca, particularly within the SMDM program, the VTOL model broadens the scope of operational use. On land, it can support special forces in reconnaissance, tactical observation, or light payload transport missions without requiring dedicated launch or recovery equipment. The drone can be disassembled and packed for transport in light vehicles and is operable day or night, including in degraded conditions.
Two VTOL variants are available depending on mission needs. The electrically powered Aliaca VTOL Evo offers three hours of endurance, a 50 km range, and a 2 kg payload capacity. The Aliaca VTOL ER (Extended Range), featuring a hybrid thermal engine, provides six hours of flight time, an 80 km range, and a payload capacity of 3 kg. These configurations offer operational flexibility suited to diverse environments, including coastal zones, forests, and urban areas.
The VTOL system retains the core technological components of the Aliaca line, including its avionics, control segment, energy kit, flight termination system, and robust data link tested in real-world conditions. It is equipped with the internally developed GX5 gyrostabilized electro-optical/infrared camera, capable of delivering high-performance imagery. For maritime operations, the drone includes an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, enabling detection and identification of vessels at distances of several hundred kilometers and enhancing intelligence and target-tracking capabilities.
The ground control station, common to all Aliaca systems and also developed by Survey Copter, enables full autonomous flight monitoring. It provides real-time reception of imagery and AIS data from onboard sensors, both day and night. Its intuitive interface allows the operator to manage flight operations securely and efficiently.
Certified by France’s defence procurement agency (DGA) and deployed on approximately twenty French Navy vessels since 2022, the VTOL version of Aliaca represents an evolution in the field of light tactical UAS. Its introduction at SOFINS 2025 reflects the objective of Survey Copter and Airbus Defence and Space to offer a compact, modular solution tailored to modern land and maritime operational demands. This new version could also address potential international requirements, particularly among foreign navies and special forces seeking deployable systems with minimal infrastructure dependencies.
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At the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS), held in Bordeaux from April 1 to 3, 2025, Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, presented a new version of its light tactical drone Aliaca, now equipped with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability. Designed to meet the growing needs of land and naval forces for operational flexibility, this new configuration complements the existing range and builds on the experience acquired through deployments with the French Navy. Several successful demonstration flights were conducted in both land and maritime environments between late 2024 and early 2025. The Aliaca VTOL is now commercially available to institutional and defense customers.
The Aliaca, developed by Survey Copter, is a light tactical unmanned aerial system intended for both civilian and military applications (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Designed for special operations and missions in environments without infrastructure, this variant combines vertical lift via four rotors with fixed-wing propulsion during flight, providing extended endurance and stable performance. The drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 27 kg, a wingspan of 3.5 meters, and a length of 2.1 meters. This dual-configuration design enables operations without dependence on launch or recovery infrastructure, which is particularly relevant in rapid deployment or constrained scenarios.
The Aliaca, developed by Survey Copter, is a light tactical unmanned aerial system intended for both civilian and military applications. It is capable of operating in restricted environments due to its compact logistical footprint, rapid 15-minute deployment time, and automated net-based recovery system. The drone can be launched from land or vessels with or without helicopter decks. Already certified and operational within the French Navy under the SMDM (Navy Mini UAS Systems) program, Aliaca is available in two main versions: the electrically powered Aliaca Evo, with a 3-hour endurance and 50 km range; and the piston-engine Aliaca ER, offering 6 hours of endurance and an 80 km range.
Adaptable to various mission profiles, Aliaca can be employed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and inspection operations across maritime, coastal, and land environments. Its ease of deployment, low acoustic and visual signature, and compatibility with light tactical vehicles such as pick-ups make it suitable for a wide range of operational scenarios. The system meets the requirements of armed forces, internal security agencies, and civilian users involved in territorial surveillance, search and rescue, crisis support, or infrastructure monitoring.
Building on the demonstrated reliability of the fixed-wing Aliaca, particularly within the SMDM program, the VTOL model broadens the scope of operational use. On land, it can support special forces in reconnaissance, tactical observation, or light payload transport missions without requiring dedicated launch or recovery equipment. The drone can be disassembled and packed for transport in light vehicles and is operable day or night, including in degraded conditions.
Two VTOL variants are available depending on mission needs. The electrically powered Aliaca VTOL Evo offers three hours of endurance, a 50 km range, and a 2 kg payload capacity. The Aliaca VTOL ER (Extended Range), featuring a hybrid thermal engine, provides six hours of flight time, an 80 km range, and a payload capacity of 3 kg. These configurations offer operational flexibility suited to diverse environments, including coastal zones, forests, and urban areas.
The VTOL system retains the core technological components of the Aliaca line, including its avionics, control segment, energy kit, flight termination system, and robust data link tested in real-world conditions. It is equipped with the internally developed GX5 gyrostabilized electro-optical/infrared camera, capable of delivering high-performance imagery. For maritime operations, the drone includes an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, enabling detection and identification of vessels at distances of several hundred kilometers and enhancing intelligence and target-tracking capabilities.
The ground control station, common to all Aliaca systems and also developed by Survey Copter, enables full autonomous flight monitoring. It provides real-time reception of imagery and AIS data from onboard sensors, both day and night. Its intuitive interface allows the operator to manage flight operations securely and efficiently.
Certified by France’s defence procurement agency (DGA) and deployed on approximately twenty French Navy vessels since 2022, the VTOL version of Aliaca represents an evolution in the field of light tactical UAS. Its introduction at SOFINS 2025 reflects the objective of Survey Copter and Airbus Defence and Space to offer a compact, modular solution tailored to modern land and maritime operational demands. This new version could also address potential international requirements, particularly among foreign navies and special forces seeking deployable systems with minimal infrastructure dependencies.
