Proud of our model
Operating in an unpredictable environment and facing very long-term challenges, Dassault Aviation can count on its solid fundamentals. Our strength lies in a unique development model and very loyal customers. Our long-term viability is the result of our ability to imagine the future, and adapt to a constant stream of new challenges.
Governance and family values
Dassault Aviation’s corporate management boasts exemplary stability, as illustrated by the fact that Éric Trappier is only the company’s fifth Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the last century.
Our long-term vision is a major advantage in aviation, an industry with very long cycles: an aircraft may well stay in production for 25 years and remain in service for more than 40 years. Our stability ensures the long-term validity of the values that have driven Dassault Aviation’s success:
– technical excellence and innovation, combined with a passion for aeronautics;
– quick strategic decisions;
– flexibility to adapt to changes;
– the determination to meet objectives;
– efficient management and competitiveness;
– a human resources policy designed to attract top talent and ensure their loyalty.
We deploy a unique approach to sharing results based on fair distribution, in particular a profit-sharing agreement that goes well beyond legal requirements. In 2018, for example, we paid 168 million euros (including the corporate social contribution) to employees via profit-sharing and incentive agreements, on a par with the 177 million euros in dividends paid to our shareholders (proposed at the Annual General Meeting in May 2019).
Furthermore, Dassault Aviation pays a large majority of its taxes in France. For 2018, we are paying 93% of our taxes in France, a total of 178 million euros, an amount comparable to the two aforementioned figures.
Dassault formation flight. nEUROn, Rafale and Falcon 8X © Dassault Aviation – A. Pecchi
Dual expertise: civil and military
Dassault Aviation’s dual civil-military expertise means that we can count on two different markets, reducing our exposure to fluctuating economic conditions.
As a systems integrator and architect, we design and produce both military and business aircraft in the same design departments and factories.
The state-of-the-art technologies developed for defense also benefit our civil aviation business. For example, innovative solutions for the defense market, such as fly-by-wire controls, advanced aerodynamics, composites and data fusion, have been applied to the Falcon family of business jets.
In return, our civil aircraft business has inspired new production processes and new certification and flight safety capabilities.
A unifying core
As industrial architect and systems integrator, Dassault Aviation unifies major suppliers in the aviation industry.
We take a pragmatic approach to coordinating partnerships and alliances, whether in Europe or in a broader international framework, through developments in the United States and India, for instance. This approach favors long-term relationships, based on complementary skills, quality and performance.
Dassault Aviation naturally plays a pivotal role in future combat systems, by teaming up on various programs in conjunction with European partners: the New-Generation Fighter via FCAS, MALE RPAS and Space Rider.