Aircraft & UAVs

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV

Also known as
  • Aliaca
  • Aliaca maritime UAS
  • Aliaca UAS
  • SMDM
  • SMD-M
  • Systèmes de Mini Drones aériens embarqués pour la Marine
  • Système de Mini Drone Marine
  • DVF 2000 Aliaca
  • DVF 2000 VT Aliaca
  • French Navy SMDM

Survey Copter Aliaca is a French maritime mini-UAS in French Navy service under the SMDM program, extending ship and coastal surveillance with EO/IR imagery and AIS collection. French Navy sources document SMDM use from Commandant Bouan during 2020 Operation Irini, while later Airbus material describes a VTOL branch that keeps the same surveillance architecture with a smaller launch-and-recovery footprint.

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV, Maritime mini uncrewed aircraft system, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Wikimedia Commons 2021 MTLN 134 A 001 016

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
France
Built by
Airbus
Type
Maritime mini uncrewed aircraft system
Service note
2020s-present
Designer
Survey Copter
Produced
2021-present

Specifications

System role
Shipborne ISR, maritime surveillance, search and rescue, traffic monitoring, and detection of suspicious activity
Fixed-wing endurance
Up to 3 hours
Fixed-wing range
50 km / 27 nm
Fixed-wing dimensions
2.2 m length; 3.6 m wingspan
Fixed-wing MTOW
16 kg
Fixed-wing aircraft per system
Two Aliaca UAVs per SMDM system
Fixed-wing launch and recovery
Catapult launch with automatic net recovery
French Navy platforms
High-sea patrol vessels, overseas patrol vessels, surveillance frigates, and land-based coastal surveillance use
Deployment
Less than 15 minutes by two operators
Sensors
Gyrostabilized EO/IR payload and AIS data collection
VTOL branch
25 kg MTOW, 3.5 m wingspan, 2.1 m length, 2 hour endurance, 50 km range
Variants

Public sources separate the original fixed-wing maritime SMDM aircraft from the later Aliaca VTOL configuration; both remain within the Aliaca/SMDM family rather than separate armed systems.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Aliaca maritime UASFixed-wing shipborne SMDM configuration

The original French Navy SMDM aircraft is an electrically powered fixed-wing maritime Aliaca launched by catapult and recovered automatically by net.

Sources: Airbus Aliaca French Navy contract, Airbus to Supply SMDM Aliaca fixed-wing UAV | Naval News

Aliaca VTOLVertical takeoff and landing SMDM configuration

Airbus says the VTOL configuration adds four lift propellers while retaining fixed-wing propulsion in flight, with deliveries to the French Navy planned from May 2026 after qualification.

Sources: French Navy to become operator of Aliaca VTOL | Airbus

Shipboard Platforms

French and naval-industry sources identify Aliaca as a mini-UAS for smaller ships that otherwise lack organic aviation assets.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Félix Éboué class patrol vessel, Offshore patrol vessel, Naval SystemsFélix Éboué class patrol vesselOverseas patrol vessel

Naval News identifies the POM offshore patrol vessels as planned Aliaca/SMDM carriers, and the cataloged Félix Éboué class is the French Navy POM class.

Sources: Airbus to Supply SMDM Aliaca fixed-wing UAV | Naval News

Other French Navy fits

Airbus also says fixed-wing SMDM equips high-sea patrol vessels and surveillance frigates, but this entry only links the existing public catalog vessel class where the relationship is explicit.

Sources: French Navy to become operator of Aliaca VTOL | Airbus

Shipborne Surveillance Role

Airbus describes Aliaca as a tactical UAS for maritime and land surveillance, with the French Navy's SMDM use focused on extending the sensor reach of ships that do not otherwise carry aviation assets.

Fixed-wing launch model

The initial French Navy contract covered catapult-launched Aliaca maritime UAS aircraft with automatic net recovery, and DGA qualification followed in July 2022.

Sources: Airbus Aliaca French Navy contract; DGA SMDM qualification.

IRINI patrol use

Marine nationale reporting ties Commandant Bouan's SMDM to EUNAVFORMED IRINI vessel detection, identification, cargo observation, and boarding-team decision support.

Sources: Commandant Bouan SMDM in Operation IRINI; Commandant Bouan departs for IRINI.

VTOL branch

Airbus announced a 2026 French Navy order for a VTOL Aliaca configuration, while saying fixed-wing SMDM systems would continue in service on equipped ships.

Source: French Navy to become operator of Aliaca VTOL | Airbus.

Timeline

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV Key Events

  1. Early Commandant Bouan sea testing

    French Navy reporting later described Commandant Bouan as an early Aliaca/SMDM test platform during operational evaluation work.

    Sources: Commandant Bouan PPSM SMDM evaluation

  2. Initial French Navy SMDM contract announced

    Airbus and Naval News reported that Survey Copter would provide 11 SMDM systems, or 22 fixed-wing Aliaca aircraft, to the French Navy with training and integrated support.

    Sources: Airbus Aliaca French Navy contract, Airbus to Supply SMDM Aliaca fixed-wing UAV | Naval News

  3. DGA qualified the SMDM

    The French defense procurement agency qualified the SMDM on 28 July 2022 and said three systems had been delivered for forthcoming operational deployment.

    Sources: DGA SMDM qualification

  4. SMDM supported Operation Irini patrol

    The French Navy described Commandant Bouan's SMDM filming and identifying a vessel during EUNAVFORMED IRINI patrol activity in the central Mediterranean.

    Sources: Commandant Bouan SMDM in Operation IRINI

  5. Commandant Bouan deployed again to IRINI

    The French Navy reported that Commandant Bouan sailed for the EUNAVFORMED IRINI theater off Libya equipped with its SMDM drone.

    Sources: Commandant Bouan departs for IRINI

  6. Fifteen additional systems ordered

    The DGA ordered 15 additional SMDM systems from Survey Copter for the French Navy, adding to 18 systems already delivered and including training and integrated logistics support.

    Sources: DGA 15 additional SMDM order

  7. VTOL Aliaca order announced

    Airbus announced a French Navy order for the VTOL Aliaca configuration, with deliveries scheduled from May 2026 after a DGA qualification campaign.

    Sources: French Navy to become operator of Aliaca VTOL | Airbus

Media

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV Videos

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV Images

Survey Copter Aliaca UAV, Maritime mini uncrewed aircraft system, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Airbus Survey Copter Aliaca ILA Berlin 2022
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Sources

Commandant Bouan SMDM in Operation IRINIPublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports 2020 Operation Irini direct conflict-use: French Navy SMDM/Aliaca operated from PHM Commandant Bouan during EUNAVFORMED IRINI, supporting maritime patrol, vessel identification, cargo observation, and boarding-team decision support. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Commandant Bouan departs for IRINIPublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports 2020 Operation Irini direct conflict-use: the French Navy reported Commandant Bouan sailing for the EUNAVFORMED IRINI theater off Libya equipped with its SMDM drone. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Commandant Bouan PPSM SMDM evaluationPublisher: Marine nationale | Note: Supports French Navy operational-evaluation context, Commandant Bouan sea testing, two-Aliaca SMDM composition, catapult launch, net recovery, endurance, range, and AIS interrogator context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Airbus Aliaca French Navy contractPublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the French Navy SMDM contract, Survey Copter/Airbus manufacturer context, fixed-wing Aliaca maritime UAS specifications, launch and recovery method, payloads, and shipborne mission set. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Aliaca | AirbusPublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports current Aliaca product background, ISR role, fixed-wing and VTOL configurations, performance values, sensor fit, and French Navy SMDM service context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04French Navy to become operator of Aliaca VTOL | AirbusPublisher: Airbus | Note: Supports the 2026 French Navy VTOL Aliaca order, VTOL dimensions and endurance, and Airbus statement that fixed-wing SMDM systems continue on equipped ships. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DGA SMDM qualificationPublisher: Direction générale de l'armement | Note: Official French DGA source supporting SMDM qualification on 28 July 2022, initial deliveries, and operational-deployment context for the French Navy. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DGA 15 additional SMDM orderPublisher: Direction générale de l'armement | Note: Official French DGA source supporting the 30 December 2023 order for 15 additional SMDM systems, total delivered context, training, and integrated logistics support. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons 2021 MTLN 134 A 001 016Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and French Open Licence context for an Aliaca/SMDM aircraft prepared for catapult launch on a French Navy patrol vessel. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Wikimedia Commons Airbus Survey Copter Aliaca ILA Berlin 2022Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and CC BY-SA licensing context for an Aliaca airframe display image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Airbus to Supply SMDM Aliaca fixed-wing UAV | Naval NewsPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports fixed-wing SMDM contract details, two-aircraft system composition, shipboard mission set, and planned POM offshore patrol vessel integration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Video: SMDM The New Fixed-Wing UAS of the French Navy | Naval NewsPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports selection of the Naval News YouTube video covering the SMDM/Aliaca fixed-wing UAS and its French Navy program context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04