Dassault Aviation has announced a significant order from the French defense procurement agency for five Falcon 2000 Albatros aircraft, marking a pivotal move in enhancing France’s maritime surveillance capabilities. The Falcon 2000 Albatros, derived from the Falcon 2000LXS business jet, is specifically engineered for effective low-speed operations, making it suitable for short and challenging airfield landings.
This advanced aircraft is equipped with a range of sophisticated features, including a fuselage-mounted multifunction radar and an optronic turret, which together significantly enhance its observational capabilities. Additionally, it incorporates observation windows, a search-and-rescue kit dispenser, and dedicated communications systems, ensuring that it can carry out a variety of missions effectively.
With a range of 4,000 nautical miles (approximately 4,600 miles or 7,400 kilometers), the Falcon 2000 Albatros stands out as a robust platform for maritime operations. The development of this aircraft has been a collaborative effort, involving key partners such as Naval Group, Safran, and Thales. This latest order aligns with France’s Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft program, which aims to secure a total of 12 Falcon 2000 Albatros units; seven of which were already contracted in December 2020.
Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, highlighted the growing interest from various countries in these aircraft, emphasizing their potential roles in supporting homeland protection, maritime security, and government operations at sea. He noted that France’s status as home to the world’s second-largest exclusive economic zone positions it well to leverage these advanced systems for vital tasks including pollution control, anti-trafficking initiatives, border monitoring, and fisheries policing.
The acquisition of the Falcon 2000 Albatros fleet will facilitate the replacement of the French Navy’s aging Falcon 50 Surmar and Falcon 200 Guardian patrol aircraft, which have served for many years. Testing protocols are ongoing at Dassault’s flight center in Istres, located in southern France. Meanwhile, conversion and customization work for the Albatros is being carried out at the company’s facility in Mérignac, where the first unit successfully completed its initial flight earlier this year.
With a track record of delivering over 2,500 Falcon jets globally, Dassault Aviation has established considerable expertise in adapting its aircraft for both government and military applications. Currently, about 10 percent of the Falcon fleet consists of specially adapted models that serve in various capacities, including maritime patrol, medical evacuation, and cargo transport. Other variants are being utilized for calibration, intelligence gathering, and training missions, showcasing the versatility and capability of the Falcon series in meeting diverse operational needs.
