Unconfirmed reports suggest that the French Ministry of Armed Forces has chosen Airbus Defense & Space over Dassault Aviation for its future maritime patrol aircraft (Patmar) program, according to information from LaTribune.
Presumably, 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 with the Marine Nationale in 1992, although 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 more than 7,300 kilometers. It can carry up to 3.5 tons of armament, including depth charges, mines and torpedoes, and fire MBDA AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles.
Airbus versus Dassault: Contrasting philosophies in maritime patrol aircraft proposals
Two proposals competed for this contract: Airbus Defense & 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 has a flight time of 11 hours and offers a significant payload, allowing it to carry an extensive range of equipment for the French Navy’s missions once converted.
This future A321MPA was presented for the first time at the Euronaval 2024 fair, which was held in Paris from November 4 to 7, 2024. The most important change is visible on the presented model was a long ammunition compartment under the fuselage. Thales will supply the sensor suite for this aircraft.
Dassault, on the other hand, emphasized the speed and agility of its Falcon 10X, which should enter service in 2025. The manufacturer also highlighted its experience in this field. Militarized versions of the Falcon 10, 20 (200 Gardian) and 50 take part in surveillance and rescue missions within the French maritime territory, pilot training and transport 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.
However, it appears that French authorities ultimately preferred the A321XLR due to its superior payload, which better suits operational needs despite its higher costs. The ministry has reportedly allocated 89 million euros to the program, of which 8 million euros for 2025.
AeroTime has contacted the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Navy for comment.
From French-German cooperation to national solutions
The selection takes place against a background of changing European defense cooperation. In 2018, the Franco-German Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) project was launched to jointly renew maritime patrol capabilities sometime between 2030 and 2035. A feasibility study by the industrial consortium THED (Thales-Hensoldt-ESG-Diehl) examined battle system architectures based on existing European platforms.
However, Germany’s 2021 decision to purchase five Boeing P8 Poseidon aircraft for more than €1.5 billion effectively halted French-German cooperation. In response, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) launched separate national investigations with Airbus and Dassault in January 2023, leaving the door open for future cooperation with other European countries on the Patmar program.
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