Airbus reportedly wins France’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft program over Dassault

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the French Ministry of the Armed Forces has chosen Airbus Defence & Space over Dassault Aviation for its future maritime patrol aircraft (Patmar) program, according to information from La Tribune. 

Supposedly, this decision has been communicated to both manufacturers, but it has yet to be publicly announced by official authorities. 

The Patmar program aims to replace France’s fleet of 18 Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft by 2030.

The Dassault-Breguet ATL2 entered service in 1992 in the Marine Nationale, though it is based on the Breguet Atlantic, an airframe developed in the 1960s. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Tyne engines, the aircraft has a maximum speed of 600 kilometers per hour and a range of over 7,300 kilometers. It can carry up to 3.5 tons of armaments, including depth charges, mines, and torpedoes, and fire MBDA AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.  

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Airbus vs. Dassault: Contrasting philosophies in Maritime Patrol Aircraft proposals

Two proposals were in competition for this contract: Airbus Defence & Space submitted a military variant of the A321XLR (Extra Long Range), while Dassault Aviation offered a modified version of the Falcon 10X business jet. 

The A321XLR was certified in July 2024 and entered service with Iberia on November 6, 2024. The aircraft boasts an 11-hour flight endurance and offers significant payload capacity, enabling it to carry an extensive array of equipment for the French Navy’s missions once converted.

This future A321MPA was first presented at the Euronaval 2024 trade show, held in Paris between November 4 and 7, 2024. The main modification visible on the presented model was a long ammunition bay located underneath the fuselage. Thales is set to supply the sensor suite for this aircraft.

In contrast, Dassault emphasized the speed and agility of its Falcon 10X, which should enter service in 2025. The manufacturer also highlighted its experience in the domain. Militarized versions of the Falcon 10, 20 (200 Gardian), and 50 participate in surveillance and rescue missions within the French maritime territory, pilot training, and the transportation of authorities. Seven Albatros maritime surveillance and intervention aircraft based on Dassault’s Falcon 2000LXS business jet should be delivered to the French Navy in 2025. 

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However, it appears that ultimately the French authorities favored the A321XLR based on its superior payload capacity, which better aligns with operational needs despite its higher cost. The ministry has reportedly allocated €89 million to the program, including €8 million earmarked for 2025. 

AeroTime has contacted the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Navy for comment. 

From Franco-German collaboration to national solutions 

The selection comes against a backdrop of shifting European defense cooperation. In 2018, the Franco-German Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) project was launched to jointly renew maritime patrol capabilities by some point between 2030 and 2035. A feasibility study by the industrial consortium THED (Thales-Hensoldt-ESG-Diehl) explored combat system architectures based on existing European platforms. 

However, Germany’s 2021 decision to acquire five Boeing P8 Poseidon aircraft for over €1.5 billion effectively paused the Franco-German collaboration. In response, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) launched separate national studies with Airbus and Dassault in January 2023, leaving the door open to future cooperation with other European nations for the Patmar program. The post Airbus reportedly wins France’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft program over Dassault appeared first on AeroTime.

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