In February 2025, Airbus announced that its commercial aircraft, the A321XLR, had been chosen by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), France’s defense procurement agency, to replace the aging Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. The DGA signed a 24-month risk mitigation contract with Airbus and Thales, a French defense and technology company. This decision came at the expense of the Falcon 10X offered by Dassault Aviation, as the French Navy required a PATMAR (maritime patrol aircraft) capable of carrying heavy payloads, such as the future antisurface missile FMAN from MBDA, and supporting a second crew for extended missions. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces had initially planned to replace the Atlantique 2 as part of the MAWS (Maritime Airborne Warfare Systems) project, which included cooperation with Germany. However, this partnership collapsed when Germany opted to purchase P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing to replace its older P-3C Orion patrol planes more quickly. Despite this, France remained focused on its own replacement program. The Annual Performance Plan (PAP) for the 146 program "Equipment of the Forces," included in the 2026 budget bill and published in October 2024, outlined that the Future PATMAR program would begin in 2026, with nearly 3 billion euros allocated for development. However, reports from Le Marin and Air & Cosmos indicated that the formal launch of the A321XLR PATMAR program was unlikely to be signed by the end of 2025. One reason cited was the high cost of the project. According to Air & Cosmos, the DGA and Airbus are currently negotiating to bring the project within budget. However, delays risk pushing the decision past the 2027 election, potentially lowering its priority. Other factors, such as performance and national sovereignty concerns, could also influence the outcome. In May 2025, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, then Chief of Staff of the French Navy (CEMM), expressed concerns about the Future PATMAR program during a parliamentary hearing. He emphasized the need to launch the implementation program by the end of 2026, with the first aircraft expected in 2034 and full operational capability by 2035. The current Atlantique 2 fleet, upgraded to the latest standard in 2026, must remain in service until 2040, creating a tight timeline for overlap between the old and new aircraft. Admiral Vaujour warned that there is no room for error and urged industry partners to ensure a smooth transition between 2035 and 2040. If the DGA and Airbus fail to reach an agreement, the P-8A Poseidon from Boeing could become the replacement for the Atlantique 2. In November 2024, when the A321XLR seemed to be the chosen option, La Tribune reported that the French Navy had considered purchasing the P-8A directly as a potential backup plan. This highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of France’s maritime patrol capabilities.