France orders 5 more Dassault Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft

The French defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), has ordered five additional Falcon 2000 LXS Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft from Dassault Aviation, expanding the country’s future fleet to 12 aircraft under the AVSIMAR (Avion de Surveillance et d’Intervention Maritime) program. 

The order, placed on September 26, 2025, follows the initial 2020 contract for seven Albatros jets, which included an option for five more. The fleet will gradually replace the French Navy’s aging Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Gardian aircraft, which have been in service for decades. 

From business jet to maritime patrol aircraft 

Dassault AviationThe Falcon 2000 LXS Albatros is based on a business jet platform but optimized for long-endurance maritime patrols and intervention. Its mission equipment includes: 

a SearchMaster AESA radar from Thales 
a Safran Euroflir 410 optronic turret 
a mission system developed by Naval Group 
SATCOM links for real-time data sharing 
The aircraft is also equipped for search and rescue missions, able to detect distress beacons, drop survival kits, and mark areas with smoke or flares. According to the DGA, the Albatros offers 10–30% greater endurance and range compared with the aircraft it replaces. 

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The first Albatros prototype conducted its maiden flight in January 2025 and is currently undergoing testing at the DGA’s flight test center in Istres, southern France. Initial operational capability is planned for late 2026, with deliveries phased to ensure a smooth transition from the legacy fleet. 

Strategic importance 

France has one of the world’s largest maritime zones, including extensive overseas territories and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of more than 10 million square kilometers. The Albatros will support missions such as fisheries patrols, anti-smuggling operations, pollution monitoring, and maritime security, reinforcing sovereignty across French waters. 

The expanded Albatros fleet strengthens the French Navy’s surveillance capability at a time when maritime security is increasingly central to national defense and global stability.  

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In parallel to the AVSIMAR program, France is also running the PATMAR plans to replace the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. In February 2025, the DGA awarded a contract to Airbus Defence and Space, with Thales as a key partner, to develop the A321 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft), based on the Airbus A321XLR commercial platform. Production launch is expected by the end of 2026. The post France orders 5 more Dassault Albatros maritime surveillance aircraft appeared first on AeroTime.

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