MARIGNANE -- The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has ordered a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) version of the SMDM mini-drone system for the French Navy from Airbus Helicopters subsidiary Survey Copter. The order builds on an existing programme under which the DGA has procured 34 Aliaca systems since 2022. Deliveries of the VTOL variant are scheduled to begin in May 2026 following a qualification campaign.

The Aliaca VTOL retains the performance and architecture of the proven fixed-wing system while adding four lift propellers that enable vertical take-off and landing, reducing deployment time and eliminating the need for launch and recovery equipment. The 25 kg tactical drone offers up to two hours of endurance and a 50 km range, carrying electro-optical/infrared sensors and an AIS payload for maritime surveillance.

Already operational on French Navy patrol vessels, frigates, and coastal search and rescue missions, the VTOL version will expand operational flexibility across a wider range of ships and future land-based coastal surveillance roles.

Source: Airbus
Associated URL: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-02-the-french-navy-to-become-first-operator-of-airbus-aliaca-vertical-uncrewed-aerial-system
Author: Airbus 

BRUSSELS - - A consortium of European aerospace and defense firms led by Diehl Defence has formally launched a collaborative project to develop a modular, next-generation short-range air-to-air missile. The initiative, titled Boosting European Advanced Missile System Technology (BEAST), held its inaugural meeting on November 25, 2025, following its selection for funding through the 2024 European Defence Fund (EDF) cycle. The consortium, which includes 21 partners from 12 European Union member states, aims to establish the foundational architecture for a weapon system that will replace aging short-range munitions currently in service across the continent.

The BEAST program is designed to deliver a versatile family of missiles capable of addressing air-to-air, air-to-ground, and surface-to-air operational requirements. A primary technical objective of the effort is the development of a system entirely free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), ensuring that European member states maintain full sovereign control over the export and deployment of the technology without requiring third-party approvals. This initiative serves as the industrial implementation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Future Short-Range Missile (FSRM) project, which seeks to align the military requirements of participating nations with a unified industrial roadmap.

Coordination of the program is being managed by Diehl Defence, which leverages its existing experience as the lead systems house for the IRIS-T missile program. The kick-off event brought together industrial partners alongside officials from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) and representatives from participating national governments. The current phase focus centers on a comprehensive concept study to define the modular airframe and seeker technologies required to counter emerging threats, including high-agility 5th and 6th generation aircraft, through the 2030s and beyond.

The development of the BEAST project marks a significant shift toward European strategic autonomy by reducing industrial reliance on foreign-controlled components. By prioritizing a modular, ITAR-free design, the consortium aims to streamline procurement costs while providing a flexible technological base that can be rapidly adapted for diverse combat platforms and mission sets.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://new.diehl.com/defence/en

BRUSSELS - A pair of Russian space vehicles have shadowed European satellites over the past few years and likely intercepted communications, the Financial Times reported on February 3.

European security officials speaking to the FT said that the Russian space vehicles, 'Luch-1' and 'Luch-2', are suspected of compromising sensitive information sent by at least a dozen satellites. The report added that officials fear Russia may even be able to manipulate the trajectories of some of those satellites.

Luch-2, in particular, has approached 17 other satellites since its launch in 2023.

The two Russian space vehicles have repeatedly approached European satellites over recent years, sometimes loitering nearby for weeks at a time, likely enabling them to intercept unencrypted communications sent to older-model satellites still in operation by European countries.

Source: Financial Times
Associated URL: https://www.ft.com/content/cd08c49c-658e-49c9-9a15-234f2bfc2074