Archange: France’s New Spy Jet Soars in Maiden Flight
France has marked a significant milestone in its airborne electronic warfare capabilities with the successful maiden flight of the Dassault Aviation Falcon 8X-based Archange, a major advancement in the country’s intelligence-gathering capabilities.
The Archange program involves the transformation of three Falcon 8X business jets into advanced signals intelligence (SIGINT) platforms, equipped with Thales’s CUGE (Universal Electronic Warfare Capability) system. These aircraft are designed to detect, intercept, and analyze radar and radio signals, playing a crucial role in supporting multi-domain military operations.
The specialized aircraft can operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and speeds nearing Mach 0.9. They feature multi-polarization antennas, high-sensitivity sensors, and artificial intelligence-enhanced signal processing. Additionally, the system integrates high-speed satellite communications for near real-time data dissemination.
The Archange fleet is set to replace two aging Transall C-160G Gabriel aircraft that were retired in 2022, thereby filling a critical capability gap in France’s intelligence operations. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2025, 2026, and 2028, and will be operated by the Electronic Squadron 00.054 ‘Dunkerque’ at Évreux-Fauville Air Base.
Source: Flightglobal