Story ID: 517
Dassault Showcases Civil and Defense Platforms
By: Cathy Buyck
Caption: The company’s Falcon 8X and Rafale will participate in the flying display at the 2019 Paris Air Show.
Word Count: 373
Saint-Cloud, Paris-based Dassault Aviation created a “Rafale Inside” space at its Paris Air Show stand (Hall 2A, Stand 251) that offers visitors a virtual reality experience of the combat aircraft, as well as a simulator demonstrating the operational capabilities of the Rafale and a mockup of the aircraft. Meanwhile, the French Air Force will perform a Rafale demonstration flight each afternoon during the show's daily flying display.

The company's exhibition booth also features mockups of a special-mission Falcon business jet, the Atlantique 2 (ATL2) long-range maritime patrol aircraft, UAVs, future aircraft, and space vehicles. On the civil side, its static display will feature the Falcon 8X, 900LX, and 2000S/LXS, in addition to a Falcon 6X cabin mockup. Dassault test pilots will show the capabilities of the company’s largest and longest-range business jet, the Falcon 8X, during the daily flying display.

Also at the show, Dassault is highlighting "how we are preparing for the future: extending the Falcon family (6X), reinforcing our support services, presenting what could be a demonstrator for the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the agreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus,” said Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Éric Trappier.

The unveiling of the NGF is widely expected on Monday. Dassault and Airbus in 2018 announced an agreement to cooperate on the development of a stealth fighter jet and a two-year joint concept study contract was awarded to Airbus Defence & Space and Dassault in February 2019.

This will result in the companies developing a concept for a next-generation fighter that will be teamed with new weapons capabilities, as well as UAVs that the two nations have termed as “remote carriers.” These various elements will be cloud-linked, offering a system of systems approach.

In addition, Dassault Aviation is present in the Paris Air Lab innovation zone, where its specialists will coordinate the “Big Data & Artificial Intelligence” exhibit: pilot decision-making aids; big data applications in civil and military maintenance; and big data visualization using a digital twin.

The company also is taking part in the fourth edition of the “Careers Plane” and the Employment and Training Forum this week at the Paris show.