Falcon 8X Archange lands at Évreux Air Base

The Falcon 8X Archange, a future electromagnetic intelligence aircraft for the French Air and Space Force, made its first landing at Évreux Air Base 105, its future home, on October 7, 2026. The Air and Space Force officially announced the event on October 23, 2026.

Aircraft designed for electromagnetic intelligence

The aircraft, developed by Dassault Aviation and Thales, is designed to capture and analyze enemy emissions, functioning as a "large flying ear" focused on the electromagnetic spectrum. It employs a system called CUGE, or "universal electronic warfare capability," developed by Thales, to intercept signals such as radar sweeps and communication chatter.

Replacing Cold War-era aircraft

The Falcon 8X Archange is expected to replace the Transall C160 Gabriel, a Cold War-era aircraft, with three units anticipated to be in service by 2028-2029. The aircraft is based on a business jet platform but has been modified for military use, with nearly 10 percent of Falcons in service already used by military, governmental, or health organizations.

Project timeline and support

The project, which began in late 2019 with a contract awarded by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), includes three Falcon 8X aircraft and three ground-based systems. The first landing at Évreux was supported by the Centre d'expertise aérienne militaire (CEAM), which assists in testing and preparing for operational deployment.

Transition for airborne electronic squadron

The 1/54 "Dunkerque" airborne electronic squadron, which currently uses Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft, is expected to transition to the Falcon 8X Archange. Once in service, the aircraft will integrate with the Air and Space Force's intelligence chain, including MQ-9 Reaper drones and satellite imagery from the Creil base.

Integration with intelligence systems

Data collected by airborne sensors will be processed and merged by the Air Intelligence Center for the Direction of Military Intelligence, using algorithms and artificial intelligence to detect anomalies and extract usable information. The Ministry of the Armed Forces expects the Falcon 8X Archange to be commissioned between 2028 and 2030.