The French Navy has successfully conducted a three-day demonstration of the Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS) aboard a patrol vessel in the waters off France’s northwest coast.
These operations have been conducted as part of the French Navy’s PERSEUS initiative, which aims to promote technological advancements by testing them under real conditions, as per Airbus Helicopters’ LinkedIn post.
Designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), the compact tactical Flexrotor drone can carry up to 25kg (55lb).
It is suitable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions with endurance capabilities of 12-14 hours under standard operational settings.
The demonstration took place from 3 to 6 June. The Flexrotor logged more than 12 hours of flight time during this period, performing surveillance operations both during the day and at night.
The system showcased its capability in executing take-offs and landings from a compact, mobile deck as well as its capacity for extended-duration tasks.
Using the advanced sensors of the Flexrotor, the ship’s personnel were able to enhance their intelligence collection and situational awareness, said Airbus Helicopters.
The Flexrotor can take off and land vertically in a space of 3.7 x 3.7 metres (m). Its tilt-rotor design allows it to transition from a vertical position to horizontal flight, utilising a 3m wingspan while its body measures 2m in length.
The Flexrotor can carry over 100 payload types including methane detectors and Wi-Fi hotspots. It is suitable for government and parapublic missions. Users can also select payloads based on specific needs, such as cameras for tracking or sensors for intelligence gathering, said the company.
In February 2025, an Airbus Defence and Space-led consortium, which includes Naval Group, secured a contract from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) for stage 3 of the French Navy’s IP Network (RIFAN).
Australian aerospace company Drone Forge reached an agreement with Airbus in March to work together on the implementation and operational integration of the Flexrotor drone system.
