Military Technology 05/2021

A FALCON 200 of the Marine Nationale – one of the oldest models still in service. (Photo: Marine Nationale) Drawing on this experience, Dassault Aviation to- day proposes the FALCON 900MPA and the FALCON 2000MRA [Multi-Role Maritime Aircraft] MPAs. These are equipped with a highly advanced full mission system, capable of detecting all types of threats and reacting with the appropriate response. Both aircraft offer exceptional operational flexibility, as well as ex- cellent performance. The company describes its MPAs as a “unique concept of a long-range, high-perfor- mance, low-cost, low-development risk maritime pa- trol aircraft [that are also] durable, efficient and safe.” In addition, the latest generation mission system, sensor suite and platform have been developed with provi- sions for future enhancements to meet new demands that may arise during the aircraft’s long operating life. Such a concept has convinced Japan to procure five FALCON 2000MSA [Maritime Surveillance Aircraft]. FALCON aircraft have been designed to meet the most stringent requirements in terms of reli- ability, maintenance, and safety. The Falcon 2000MSA can be deployed with extremely low-cost logistics, with an impressive level of reliability. It can be deployed with a small team and a very small logistical foot- print for overseas missions, or in remote and isolated locations. Its en- durance is impressive. According to the company’s figures, the MPA can conduct a seven-hour patrol mission within an EEZ (200nm/370km) or a three-hour patrol mission at a maximum distance of 1,000nm/1,850km. The Japanese version features a Thales SEARCHMASTER AESA X-band radar, an L3Harris WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR turret, and an unspecified L3Harris-produced mission suite. In November 2020, Florence Parly, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, formally announced the contract for the ALBATROS Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft (AVSIMAR) programme, based on the Falcon 2000LXS business jet and the FALCON 2000MRA con- cept. In accordance with the military programming law, the initial order is for seven aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2025, with an eventual to- tal of 12 planned. However, as geopolitics heat up all over the French EEZ – especially in its overseas territories – and the ATLANTIC 2 fleet shrinks, it is no mystery that the Marine Nationale had envisaged pro- curement of as many as 18 FALCON-based MPAs. Like the Japanese MPAs, ALBATROS will incorporate an under-fuselage multi-function radar (likely Thales’ SEARCHMASTER), a Safran EUROFLIR 410 high-perfor- mance retractable optronic ball, observation windows, a SAR lifeboat release system and dedicated communication systems. Also, the air- frame has been modified with two winglets and four leading edge slats, and under-wing carry points will be added, sized for a wide variety of stores, including missiles, towing equipment, and EW pods. Should the mock-up presented at the 2019 Paris Air Show prove to be reliable, two conformal antennas and a tail-mounted sensor will enable the aircraft to conduct ELINT missions as well. It appears likely the crew will include two pilots and two to four system operators/observers. SIGINT Platforms FALCON aircraft are ideal to be operated as proficient SIGINT assets as well. The most notable example is the six FALCON 2000s in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force. The aircraft have been modified by Korean Air, and little is currently known about sensors or embedded Dassault Aviation is developing new families of special mission air- craft for French and foreign governmental customers. Solid Background Over the past 50 years, Dassault Aviation has modified numer- ous FALCON aircraft, to adapt them for maritime surveillance, medical evacuation, cargo transport, calibration, intelligence, and training roles. These multi-role aircraft represent about 10% of the FALCON fleet – some 200 examples from a global fleet of about 2,500 business jets currently in service. In the last two years, the company has detected a growing inter- est in ISR assets based on long-range business jets. Hence, recent orders by the French military represent excellent showcases for confirming the FALCON family’s potential in this field, especially as far as maritime sur- veillance and SIGnal INTelligence (SIGINT) applications are concerned. Maritime Surveillance Dassault’s expertise in the field of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) goes back to FALCON 10 aircraft in service with the Marine Nationale . The current offer, of MPAs based on FALCON 2000 and FALCON 900 business jets, draws on experience gained through the FALCON 200 and FALCON 50M MPA programmes. In general, these classes of aircraft are optimized for EEZ surveillance duties, coupled with support to SAR operations. This allows governmental and military operators to deploy an affordable, effective, and rapid response asset, by comparison with larger airframes. Ideally, MPAs based on the FALCON family complement fleets of larger aircraft, letting the latter to concentrate on ASW and long-range patrol. The FALCON 200 has been an initial experiment in this sense, with five examples currently in service with the Marine Nationale for patrolling over- seas territories since the 1980s. The base configuration includes a VARAN radar, derived from the IGUANE unit in service with ATLANTIC-2 MPAs, and a retractable FLIR, which has the partial effect of reducing operator time spent staring out the windows. The concept has been deemed valid in the US also, with the Coast Guard operating for decades with its 41 HU-25A light MPAs – a customised version of the FALCON 200 – be- fore replacing them with Airbus CN-235MPAs. More recently, the Marine Nationale has introduced into service two batches of four FALCON 50M (four MI and four MR), known as SURMAR [Surveillance Maritime] and equipped with a full MPA suite, including an OCEAN MASTER radar and a retractable FLIR turret. In the 2018-2021 period, all eight examples were modified with a ventral hatch, from which it is possible to deploy up to nine rescue lifeboats, markers, and buoys. Marco Giulio Barone Dassault’s Special Mission Aircraft More Than Just Business Jets f Feature MT 5/2021 · 55 Marco Giulio Barone is a political-military analyst based in Paris, and a regular contributor to Monch magazines.