U070

The Airbus U070, formerly known as the VSR700, is a multi-mission tactical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system. 

The U070 provides eight hour endurance through Continental CD-155 diesel engine efficiency, enabling both extended maritime patrol and warfare operations.

The U070 employs the Airbus DeckFinder local positioning system, providing 10-20 cm accuracy for autonomous launch and recovery from moving ship decks. Operating independently of GNSS/GPS, DeckFinder enables efficient operations regardless of degraded visual conditions (dense fog, storms) or GPS-denied environments. The system has demonstrated fully autonomous takeoffs and landings from ships at sea, operating in harsh maritime conditions.  The U070's compact dimensions (6.2 m length, 760 kg MTOW) enable deployment aboard frigates and destroyers.

The U070, formerly known as the VSR700, derives from the Hélicoptères Guimbal Cabri G2, a French civil light helicopter featuring a three-bladed main rotor and a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor. Airbus adapted the proven civil airframe for uncrewed operations, replacing pilot seats with fuel tanks, mission equipment, and avionics. Powered by Continental CD-155 diesel engine producing 155 horsepower burning diesel or jet fuel, the dual-use architecture leverages commercial helicopter reliability (certified civil platform) whilst incorporating autonomous systems including DeckFinder positioning, advanced flight control systems, and Naval Group mission system integration.

 U070 carries a range of sensors depending on its mission configuration:

• Electro-Optical / Infrared Turret for visual and thermal surveillance, target classification, and laser designation.
• Maritime and Surface Surveillance Radar for surface detection for wide-area maritime coverage and target tracking.
• Automatic Identification System for vessel identification and data correlation with radar tracking.
• Navigation and Flight Control Sensors:, dual GPS receivers, and specialized flight control sensors.
• Communication and Surveillance Equipment: Transponder and redundant data link systems.
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Sensors: Sonobuoys for active and passive acoustic detection, a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), and dipping sonar.
• Anti-Drone Warfare Sensors & Equipment: Missile detection and tracking solution, EO/IR turret, surface radar, active and passive acoustic surveillance sensors, Airborne Launched Effectors (ALE), laser-guided rockets, and missiles.
• Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) & Strike Equipment: EO/IR turret with laser designator, maritime surveillance radar, Airborne Launched Effectors (ALE), and laser-guided rockets. 

The U070 features crewed-uncrewed teaming capability enabling operations in concert with piloted helicopters through the Airbus HTeaming solution. Helicopter crews control the U070 in flight via tablet-based Human-Machine Interface or integrated mission system, receiving real-time data from U070 sensors whilst maintaining primary aircraft control. This approach extends operational reach—the eight hour U070 endurance (versus typical 3-4 hour helicopter endurance) enables persistent surveillance whilst crewed aircraft rotate between missions, ensuring continuous tactical coverage. The U070 operates as a catalyst, providing both reconnaissance freeing piloted helicopters for intervention missions or operating complex missions by itself. Customers are now having the opportunity to explore extended mission configurations & capabilities thanks to Airbus H-Teaming functionality, connecting multiple drones and multiple helicopters.

ISTAR and Tactical Extension: Navies and armed forces can conduct persistent surveillance for up to 8 hours, perform beyond-line-of-sight target identification, and integrate data directly into naval combat systems.

Naval Logistics Transport: Customers can transport logistics equipment and execute casualty evacuations using side lateral baskets.

Anti-Submarine Warfare: Armed forces can deploy and relay sonobuoys, conduct dipping sonar operations, perform magnetic anomaly detection, and deploy depth charges.

Anti-Drone Warfare: Navies can counter multi-domain threats across aerial, surface, and underwater uncrwed systems. 

Anti-Surface Warfare and Strike: Armed forces can engage threats in contested environments using laser-guided rockets, airborne launched effectors, and laser target designation.

Group 4 tactical ISTAR VUAS (Vertical Uncrewed Aerial System) classification indicates the U070's capability to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance operations as a tactical vertical take-off and landing unmanned system. This classification reflects eight hour endurance, autonomous VTOL capability, comprehensive sensor integration (maritime surveillance radar, Electro-Optical Systems, AIS receiver), and operational deployment from naval vessels. The Group 4 designation positions U070 for complex maritime missions including anti-terrorism, counter-smuggling, fishery protection, and anti-submarine warfare, operating autonomously or through crewed-uncrewed teaming with piloted helicopters.