Aviation

VSR700 tested at sea in full operational configuration

The VSR700 unmanned aerial system (UAS) was tested from a ship at sea for the first time in an operational form by Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (DGA). Beginning in the month of May, the VSR700 completed 80 totally autonomous takeoffs and landings from a civil ship with a helicopter deck while it was cruising off the Brittany coast in the west of France.

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A crucial feature of the VSR700 is its autonomous takeoff and landing capabilities, which are made possible by the Airbus DeckFinder system. This makes it possible for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to autonomously launch and recover with an accuracy of 10–20 cm during difficult operations under adverse climatic circumstances, independent of GNSS/GPS and regardless of degraded visual conditions.

This new test campaign comes after two sets of trials with the DGA that were carried out in late 2022 and early 2023 at the Levant Island test facility in the south of France. The SDAM prototype proved its use in a maritime setting during these experiments. A marine surveillance radar, an electro-optical sensor, and an AIS receiver together with the mission system created by Naval Group were evaluated along with the aircraft’s handling characteristics.

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Prior to flight testing on board a French Navy FREMM during the second semester of this year, the second VSR700 prototype will make its first flight as part of the following development steps.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.