The Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA - French Government Defense Procurement Agency) has taken delivery of the first two Falcon 2000LXS Albatros aircraft as part of the AVSIMAR program (Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft).
Dassault Aviation developed the Falcon 2000 Albatros in cooperation with Naval Group, Safran, and Thales. Flight tests were conducted at Dassault Aviation’s flight test center in Istres, while conversion work is performed at Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac plant.
The Falcon 2000 Albatros is equipped with a multifunction radar under the fuselage, a high-performance optronic turret, observation windows, a search-and-rescue (SAR) chain-dropping system, and dedicated communication systems.
Based on the Falcon 2000LXS business jet, the latest model in the Falcon 2000 series, this aircraft is highly versatile, according to Dassault Aviation. With a range of 7,400 km, high transit speed, and excellent low-speed flight characteristics, it can monitor vast areas and intervene quickly and precisely at long distances from its base.
Launched in 2020, this program plans to deliver a total of twelve aircraft by 2031.
“From the Falcon 20 of the U.S. Coast Guard to the Falcon 900 and 2000MSA of the Japanese Coast Guard, and including the Falcon 200 Gardian and 50M of the French Navy, we have extensive experience in maritime surveillance,” said Éric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation.
“These aircraft provide a high-performance response to the significant challenges of sovereignty, maritime security, and state action at sea: combating pollution and trafficking, border and exclusive economic zone surveillance, fisheries policing, search and rescue at sea, medical evacuations, and more. It is only natural that France, which has the second-largest maritime domain in the world, should be at the forefront of using such aircraft.”
Dassault Aviation has developed expertise in maritime patrol through its Atlantic and Atlantique 2 aircraft, which have supported missions including the protection of France’s nuclear submarines. The company recently delivered the Atlantique 2 Standard 6. In carrier-based aviation,
Dassault Aviation has developed aircraft including the Étendard IV, Super-Étendard, and Rafale Marine. The Rafale Marine is operated by France and India and is designed for missions including maritime space control, power projection, and support for land operations from the sea.