On 11 September 2013 in Mérignac, Dassault Aviation delivered a Falcon 50 M to the French defense procurement agency (DGA) to ensure maritime surveillance tasks.
This aircraft is the first in a series of four State-owned Falcon 50B (initially operated by Etec, the French Air Force squadron that ensured presidential and other official flights) to be transformed for maritime surveillance missions. It will join four other Falcon 50 M jets in service in the French Navy since the early 2000s.
The main missions of these aircraft involve search and rescue at sea, surveillance of fishing zones and fighting against trafficking and smuggling.
The project to transform the aircraft for maritime surveillance work involves installing observation windows and a mission control system (provided by Thales) that includes a radar device installed in the nose cone, retractable infrared optronics and an operator's console in the cabin.
Delivery of the three other Falcon 50 M will be staggered up to early 2015.
With more than 8,000 military and civil aircraft delivered to 83 countries over the past 60 years, and having logged nearly 28 million flight hours to date, Dassault Aviation can offer recognized know how and experience in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, from the Rafale fighter to the Falcon range of high end business jets. In 2012, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of € 3.94 billion, with around 11,600 employees.
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