Via Scramble Magazine
Eric Trappier lors du NBAA déclare être en finalisation pour les discussions concernant l'Archange et l'Albatros. 3 Falcon 8X pour L'Archange et 7 Falcon 2000LXS pour l'Albatross (remplacement de Falcon 50 SURMAR, proche du standard japonais).
"The contract between the French ministry of Armed Forces and Dassault in the course of finalisation.
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier gave a press conference at Las Vegas during the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) on 19 October 2019. He declared, “We are working actively with the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) to finalise two major additional multirole purchases: three Falcon 8X aircraft for the Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) programme and seven Falcon 2000s for the Albatros maritime surveillance requirement."
During the Salon International de l’Aéronautique et de l'Espace - Paris Le Bourget or Paris Air Show 2019, Florence Parly confirmed the choice of the Falcon 8X "Archange" to replace the ageing C-160G Gabriel. At the request of the French Armed Forces, Dassault will integrate the electronic warfare payload CUGE (Capacité Universelle de Guerre Électronique) developed by Thales with the Falcon 8X.
The DGA selected the new tri-jet capable of flying more than 11,000 kilometres, to be equipped with radar and sensors allowing simultaneous interception of radio and radar transmissions. By 2027, the Falcon 8X "Archange” will replace the old Gabriel, reinforcing intelligence and providing operational superiority. On 27 September 2019, the airborne electronic squadron (EEA) 1/54 "Dunkerque" based at Evreux celebrated thirty years of service of the C-160G Gabriel.
Trappier also mentioned the future acquisition of seven Falcon 2000LXSs, baptised "Albatros". They will replace the current fleet of Falcon 50s and Guardian. The order, scheduled for 2020, will initially consist of seven Falcon 2000LXSs. The delivery will take place by 2025 and the future aircraft will have a design very close to the five 2000MSAs ordered by Japan. The Japanese Coast Guard took delivery recently of a second Falcon 2000 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft and placed an order for a sixth unit."
