Shaping technological innovation
As an industrial architect and systems integrator, you have to know how to develop and apply state-of-the-art technologies. Dassault Aviation offers this rare skill, making it a pivotal player in ensuring the strategic sovereignty of France and Europe for both civil and military applications.
We put a major effort into the development of Falcon jets, of course, but our efforts also encompass many other areas, including the Rafale standard F3-R, modernization of the ATL2 maritime surveillance aircraft, drones and development of Rafale Export standards.
Our commitment to developing new technologies is reflected in significant self- funded investments and in-depth partnerships with research centers and competitiveness clusters. We are also involved in a number of joint Research & Development (R&D) programs.
A partner in civil aviation research
We are a major contributor to the civil aviation research council, Corac (Conseil pour la recherche en aéronautique civile), focusing on five major aspects: a composite wing demonstrator, modular avionics extended to business aircraft, cockpit of the future, electric aircraft, and tackling airframe noise sources.
Tangible European achievements
Dassault Aviation has been involved in the European research program Clean Sky since 2008. Along with 18 partners and the same number of major subcontractors from seven European countries, we are developing BLADE (Breakthrough Laminar Aircraft Demonstrator in Europe), and also actively participating in the development of manufacturing technologies needed for volume production. BLADE is designed to meet the objective for a considerable decrease – at least 50% – in aircraft fuel consumption, emissions and noise. In particular, we were in charge of making the aerofairing for the demonstrator.
As part of this program’s Integrated Technology Demonstrator (ITD), the Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft, we are developing load control methods, as well as quieter exhaust systems, designed to attenuate engine noise directed towards the ground.
Through the follow-on Clean Sky 2 program, we are studying a new generation of materials, along with manufacturing, maintenance and recycling technologies that will further reduce our environmental impact.
Within the scope of SESAR, a Joint Undertaking to improve European air traffic management, we developed the FalconEye system, which will support the increased and safe use of airports, even under bad weather conditions, without having to add new ground infrastructures.
Through Hycarus, a European project, we are participating in the development of aviation applications for fuel cells. This project opens the door to a number of exciting new possibilities, especially for special- mission Falcons. Modular, flexible and easy to access, this new energy source can be quickly and seamlessly added to the aircraft’s existing systems.
At the same time, we continue to participate in the European alternative fuels program, Alpha-BIRD.
Space systems: demanding standards, joint programs
We take part in the joint development of advanced space vehicles, such as the IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) in collaboration with Thales Alenia Space, and its successor, the Space Rider, with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian space research center (CIRA).
We are also studying projects for small airborne launchers carried aloft by a Rafale or Falcon, as well as the Vehra family of suborbital vehicles, with French space agency CNES. These semi- reusable systems are designed to launch small satellites.
We contributed to the success of deep space missions, such as the Cassini and Rosetta probes.
Building on our expertise in pyrotechnic devices for rockets (the Ariane launcher in particular) and satellites, we are also developing a digital pyromechanism.
Artificial intelligence for tomorrow’s air systems
As part of the Man-Machine Teaming (MMT) program, French defense procurement agency DGA chose Dassault Aviation and Thales to lead the development of an ecosystem dedicated to the integration of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for military aviation.