France, Nov. 3 -- The new VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) variant of Airbus Helicopters' tactical uncrewed aerial system U010 Aliaca has been officially qualified by the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). This qualification follows an exhaustive test campaign conducted on land and at sea throughout May and June 2026 in close collaboration with the French Navy. This major milestone officially clears this UAS to enter service under the SMDM (Systeme de Mini-Drones embarques pour la Marine) contract, with the first two systems delivered to the French Navy in September. Already DGA-qualified in its initial fixed-wing configuration, the U010 Aliaca has been operational since 2022 under the SMDM contract, equipping patrol vessels (PH...