Dassault delivers third upgraded ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft
Dassault Aviation delivered the third upgraded Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), according to a statement made on 28 April.
The aircraft was upgraded to DGA Standard 6 as a result of a contract signed in October 2013. The contract covers the modernisation of 18 aircraft in total, seven of which will be completed between 2019 and 2023.
Standard 6 configuration includes a new Thales Search Master radar with active antenna, a new navigation console and tactical display subsystem along with a new WESCAM optronic ball.
This will enable the ATL2 to support the operational capacity of the Strategic Ocean Force and the Naval Air Group of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier until 2030.
France is one of a handful of countries modernising its maritime patrol aircraft to combine enhanced detection capabilities with a range of anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and laser-guided weapons.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
