VSR700 French Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The VSR700 French Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle designed to operate from naval surface combatants (frigates, destroyers) alongside manned helicopters. Developed under the French Navy's SDAM program, it bridges the gap between smaller tactical drones (like the Skeldar V-200) and large rotary-wing UAVs (like the MQ-8C Fire Scout). The platform is derived from the Guimbal Cabri G2 light manned helicopter, converted into an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) and eventually a fully unmanned system. Its primary role is Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), with secondary capabilities in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and limited strike operations. The VSR700 occupies a distinct "middle weight" tier. It offers significantly more payload and stability than the smaller Skeldar V-200 but is more logistically deployable than the heavy MQ-8C Fire Scout, which requires a larger hangar footprint comparable to a manned helicopter.