SURVEY Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus, has developed a new configuration for its range of light tactical drones ALIACA. The system, called ALIACA ER, for "extended range", is a new configuration of the ALIACA system. This system is equipped with a powerful heat engine. Allowing it an elongation of 100km and an autonomy of 6 hours.

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The ALIACA ER is a high-endurance system capable of carrying out 6-hour missions within a range of 100km (Picture source: Survay Copter)

ALIACA ER, for "extended range", is a new configuration of the ALIACA Evo, a lightweight tactical drone system developed by SURVEY Copter. The ALIACA Evo has been selected by the French Ministry of Defense to equip French Navy ships as part of its SMDM program (Navy mini-drone system)

The ALIACA ER is a high-endurance system capable of carrying out 6-hour missions within a range of 100km (54 NM).

Like all drones in the ALIACA range, ALIACA ER is launched by a catapult and ends its flight with an automatic recovery in a net.

With a maximum take-off weight of 16 kg and a wingspan of 3.6 m for 2.2 m in length, ALIACA ER is powered by a powerful kerosene fuel combustion engine. The system can easily and quickly be implemented by only 2 operators.

This dual-sensor system can fulfill the most demanding intelligence, tracking and target tracking missions. It is equipped with a high performance gyro-stabilized electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload and an AIS (Automatic Identification System) to detect vessels within a radius of several hundred kilometers.

Also easy to use, the ground station allows the operator to constantly monitor the automatic flight of the drone, while receiving in real time, day and night, the images and AIS data collected by the onboard sensors.

It will allow users to complete long-range, 6-hour missions:

- Identification of unknown vessels thanks to its turret and its AIS (Automatic Identification System),
- Taking photos and videos (transmitted in real time),
- Discreet repositioning of vessels of interest,
- Searching for castaways.

ALIACA, a range of SURVEY Copter products

- ALIACA ER is the latest in a range of lightweight tactical drones with more than 10 years of experience.

- ALIACA Evo. A system of light tactical drones for maritime use, certified and qualified by the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) within the framework of the SMDM contract – “Navy Embedded Mini Aerial Drone Systems”. 11 ALIACA Evo systems equip and will equip various units of the French Navy such as high seas patrol boats (PHM), new overseas patrol boats (POM) or surveillance frigates (FS). Other BPH platforms are also under consideration.
Discreet and silent thanks to its electric motor, ALIACA EVO can fulfill the most sensitive surveillance missions.

The two systems, ALIACA Evo and ALIACA ER allow end users to fulfill different missions:

- ALIACA Evo is aimed at operational staff wishing to carry out surveillance and intelligence missions in complete discretion over a range of 50km and for 3 hours. Thanks to its "glide" mode and low acoustic signature.
- ALIACA ER meets increased endurance needs, thanks to its 6 hours of autonomy and its range of 100 km.