Highlights

Falcon 6X launch

Our new aircraft program, the ultra-wide body Falcon 6X, was unveiled on February 28, 2018. First deliveries of this business twin jet, the most spacious in its class, are slated for 2022. Its development is proceeding on schedule, especially the engine tests and joint work with our partners.

EBACE 2018, Geneva, Switzerland, May 28th-31st, 2018. Dassault Aviation booth © Dassault Aviation – A. Daste

Falcon 6X – Extra-wide body cabin © Dassault Aviation – A. Daste

Falcon customer support network expands

Our core strategy of developing Falcon support services and controlling the customer experience has been strengthened with the acquisition of ExecuJet and TAG Aviation’s maintenance businesses, announced in early 2019. These two entities will consolidate our presence in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Middle East regions, by adding 15 new locations to expand our network to a total of 65 service centers.

First contract for the Future Combat Air System

France and Germany have awarded the contract for a Joint Concept Study (JCS) to Dassault Aviation and Airbus, within the scope of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. The study kicked off on February 20, 2019 and will last two years. Dassault Aviation is leading the New-Generation Fighter (NGF), one of the main components in the FCAS.

Dassault aviation facility: Saint-Cloud, France SCAF. © Dassault Aviation – A. Daste

MALE drone mockup unveiled

On April 26, 2018, a life-size mock-up of Europe’s new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) was unveiled at the ILA airshow in Berlin. Dassault Aviation is participating in this program alongside Airbus Defence & Space and Leonardo.

ILA (Innovation and Leadership in Aerospace) Berlin Air Show, Germany, from 25 to 29 April 2018. Unveiling of the first full scale model of the European Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (MALE RPAS) © Dassault Aviation – V. Almansa

Rafale delivered to Qatar

The first of the 36 Rafales ordered by Qatar was delivered on February 6, 2019 in a ceremony attended by His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Vice Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of Defense, and Geneviève Darrieussecq, French Minister of State reporting to the Minister of the Armed Forces. Qatar exercised its option to order an additional 12 Rafales in March 2018, bringing its total order to 36 aircraft. It also took an option on 36 more Rafale fighters.

Delivery ceremony of the first Rafale to Qatari Emiri Air Force © Dassault Aviation – S. Randé

Contract signature of 12 Rafale in Doha (Qatar) 12/07/2017 in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, French President, Eric Trappier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation and Cheik Tamim ben Hamad al-Thani Emir of Qatar © Présidence de la république/P.Servent

Dassault Aviation facility: Bordeaux-Mérignac, France. Final assembly line. © Dassault Aviation - A. Taiba

Dassault Aviation facility: Bordeaux-Mérignac. Rafale DQ02 in flight © Dassault Aviation - V. Almansa

Rafale DQ02 in flight. © Dassault Aviation - H. Laverne

Rafale. Final assembly line © Dassault Aviation - V. Almansa

Delivery ceremony of the first Rafale to Qatari Emiri Air Force © Dassault Aviation - S. Randé

Rafale DQ01 Qatar.1st flight © Dassault Aviation - A. Pecchi

First flight of Indian Rafale

The Rafale RB008, the development aircraft for India, made a successful first flight on October 30, 2018. The Rafale will give India unprecedented air combat capabilities.

First flight of the Rafale BI 008 © Dassault Aviation – C. Cosmao

Signing ceremony of the sales contract for Rafale to India © Dassault Aviation - S. Fort

First flight of the Rafale B008 © Dassault Aviation - S. Randé

Flight of Rafale RB 008 © Dassault Aviation - V. Almansa

On Friday October 12, Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian Minister of Defense, visits the Argenteuil factory with Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation © Dassault Aviation - S. Tallon

First deliveries from the DRAL plant in Nagpur

In early 2019, our plant in Nagpur, India rolled out its first Falcon forward fuselage sections, including one that was on display at the Aero India Show in February. The cornerstone for this plant, part of our DRAL joint venture, was laid in October 2017.

Management Committee in New Delhi

Following a four- day visit to India, Éric Trappier called a meeting of the Dassault Aviation Management Committee in New Delhi for the first time, on April 23, 2018, symbolizing the strategic importance of our investment in India.

Qualification of Rafale F3-R standard

The Rafale F3-R standard, launched in December 2013, was qualified on October 31, 2018, right on schedule. This new standard is part of ongoing upgrades to the Rafale, and includes the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile and the Talios designation pod.

Falcon CUGE

The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) chose Dassault Aviation to integrate the Falcon CUGE (intelligence and electronic warfare) version on March 1, 2018.

Rafale F4 standard

During her visit to Mérignac on January 14, 2019, Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, officially awarded the contract for the development and integration of the new Rafale standard, F4. At the same time, she renewed the agreement providing support to small and medium- size enterprises (SME) in the defense sector.

Dassault Aviation facility: Bordeaux-Mérignac, France. Visit of Florence Parly, Minister of the Army, January 14th,2019 © Dassault Aviation – S. Randé

Aeroprint, a program to support 3D printing

On November 5, 2018, Dassault Aviation and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the development of additive manufacturing (3D printing) for aerospace. Partners will support the construction of a joint platform in Argonay for a period of four years.

Man-Machine Teaming

Man- Machine Teaming (MMT), an applied research program to foster the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for military aviation, was launched on March 16, 2018. Dassault Aviation is co-leader of this program, with Thales.