French DGA Delivers First Two Albatros Maritime Surveillance Aircraft to French Navy

France’s DGA delivered the first two Falcon 2000LXS Albatros maritime-surveillance aircraft to the French Navy on July 27 and 31. The AVSIMAR programme covers 12 aircraft, with a third due by year-end and then about two deliveries annually, replacing Falcon 50M and Falcon 200 Gardian fleets. Mission equipment includes the SearchMaster X-band AESA radar, EuroFLIR 410 electro-optical turret, secure communications and Link 22. With roughly 4,000 nautical miles of range, Albatros is intended for extended maritime surveillance, search and rescue, policing and environmental monitoring missions.