Dassault Aviation Delivers First Two Falcon Albatros Aircraft to the DGA

AVSIMAR Program Enters Delivery Phase

The Directorate General for Armament has received the development and first two aircraft of the Falcon 2000LXS Albatros fleet, as part of the AVSIMAR program (Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft). Launched in 2020, this program provides for the delivery of twelve aircraft by 2031.

In a statement published on September 9, 2026, Dassault Aviation and the French companies associated with the Falcon programs thanked the Ministry of Armed Forces, the French Navy, and the DGA. The aircraft is intended for maritime sovereignty and security missions: pollution and trafficking control, border and exclusive zone surveillance, fisheries enforcement, search and rescue at sea, and medical evacuation.

An Industrial System Distributed Across Multiple Sites

The Falcon 2000 Albatros integrates a multifunctional radar under the fuselage, an optronic turret, observation windows, an SAR (Search & Rescue) sonobuoy deployment system, and dedicated communication systems. It is based on the Falcon 2000LXS business jet, equipped with a range of 7,400 kilometers.

Development was carried out by Dassault Aviation in cooperation with Naval Group, Safran, and Thales. Flight tests took place at the Istres flight test center and transformation work is being performed by the Mérignac facility. According to Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, these aircraft represent "an effective response to the considerable challenges of sovereignty, maritime security of the territory, and State action at sea".