Paris Air Show 2025: Airbus presents rocket and ASW payloads for VSR700 UAS

The armed version of the Airbus VSR700 UAV on display at the Paris Air Show 2025. (Janes/Sam Wise)

Airbus displayed its VSR700 rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system (UAS), armed alternatively with rockets and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment, at the Paris Air Show 2025, held from 16 to 22 June.

The company displayed what Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, described as an “armed scout” version of the UAS alongside armament that included Thales Belgium's FZ602 70 mm rocket, sonobuoys, or depth charges. Speaking to Janes, Victor Gerin-Roze, head of UAS business at Airbus Helicopters, said that the addition of armaments to the UAS does not constitute a new variant, but demonstrates the flexibility of the platform for the deployment of multiple types of payload as a multimission aircraft.

According to Gerin-Roze, the addition of these payloads came from development of the VSR700's versatility and from interest from “multiple customers”. Development began “a few months before” the Paris Air Show, with live-firing tests not yet conducted, he added.

At the show, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was displayed with the three payload options, but others are being explored depending on customer requirements, Gerin-Roze said. Notably, the weapons are mounted on external attachment points allowing an airframe to be used across multiple roles without significant maintenance overheads.

SDAM

At the show, Sébastien Lecornu, France's minister for the armed forces, signed a framework agreement with Even and Marie-Laure Bourgeois, executive vice-president, sales and marketing of Naval Group, for the future acquisition of Uncrewed Aerial Systems for the Navy (Systèmes de Drone Aérien pour la Marine: SDAM).