Dassault hands French procurement agency first Albatros Falcon 2000LXS surveillance jets

Dassault Aviation has transferred the first two of an eventual dozen Falcon 2000LXS business jets to France’s defence procurement agency, the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), marking a milestone in the French navy’s transition to the Albatros maritime surveillance configuration.

The handover, announced on 9 September, begins the operational introduction of aircraft fitted for missions that Dassault describes as spanning pollution and trafficking interdiction, border and exclusive economic zone monitoring, fisheries policing, search and rescue, and medical evacuation duties. CEO Eric Trappier noted that France, holder of the world’s second-largest maritime domain, is a fitting first user of the type.

Specialised sensor fit

Each Albatros is equipped with a Thales Searchmaster surveillance radar, a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical/infrared turret, a Naval Group mission system, and dedicated observation windows added to the long-range twinjet airframe.

Programme timeline

Paris ordered an initial seven modified jets in December 2020, followed by five more in September of last year under the Avsimar programme, with deliveries set to run through 2031. An earlier schedule targeted initial operational capability — the point at which a fleet can begin its assigned duties — at the end of 2026.

The first adapted aircraft flew on 24 January 2025, with subsequent test and certification work carried out at the DGA’s Istres facility. The lead airframe carries the registration F-ZTMA.

The Albatros fleet will replace the navy’s existing force of eight Falcon 50Ms and five Gardian-variant Falcon 200s, aircraft that have served in the surveillance role for years and are approaching the end of their service lives.

Dassault Aviation is privately held and not publicly traded, so the programme’s progress will be tracked mainly through French defence budget disclosures and procurement announcements rather than through market filings.

What to watch

• Confirmation of initial operational capability for the Albatros fleet, previously slated for late 2026
• Progression of remaining deliveries toward the 2031 completion date under Avsimar
• Phasing-out milestones for the retiring Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Gardian fleets
• Updates on test and certification activity at the DGA’s Istres site

Source: original release