The French Navy has begun testing the VSR700 unmanned helicopter on the Aquitaine-class frigate Provence

France has launched tests of the VSR700 unmanned aerial vehicle on board an Aquitaine-class ship. The drone was photographed by local photographer Hervé Dermoune.

Here's What We Know

According to the flight tracking website, testing of the VSR700 began in early October. At the same time, a French photographer took an image of the unmanned helicopter at the end of last month. The drone was aboard the Provence-class frigate Aquitaine.

Representatives of the US Navy and Airbus Helicopters said tests of the VSR700 were imminent. However, they would not confirm information about the start of the tests.

The VSR700 tests aboard the Provence frigate were originally scheduled for September 2022, but were postponed until mid-spring 2023 due to technical problems. It appears that the test campaign has been postponed again.

For the tests, the frigate received special equipment that no other French Navy ship currently has. The military service is trying to teach the VSR700 to make an automatic landing on the ship's deck.

It is worth noting that the unmanned helicopter has already been tested at sea. In May 2023, it attempted to land on the deck of a commercial ship. The test results were deemed positive, although one of the two prototypes fell into the sea.

Source: Naval News