Overview
Dassault Aviation, headquartered in Paris with final assembly at Saint-Cloud, Argenteuil, Mérignac and Seclin, is France's premier aircraft manufacturer and one of the last family-controlled majors in global aerospace. Founded in 1945 by Marcel Dassault — whose design bureau heritage reaches back to the Bloch aircraft of the interwar years — the company built its reputation on elegant, technically advanced aircraft.
Its business rests on two pillars. The Falcon business jet family — from the Falcon 20 of the 1960s to today's 7X, 8X, and 6X — has delivered more than 2,700 aircraft and remains the benchmark for range, efficiency, and ramp presence in business aviation. In combat aviation, the Mirage dynasty (III, F1, 2000) made Dassault the world's leading exporter of Cold War-era fighters, a mantle inherited by the omnirole Rafale — now flown by France's air force and navy and exported to India, Egypt, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the UAE, and Indonesia.
The company also flew Europe's first stealth UCAV demonstrator, the nEUROn, positioning itself for the unmanned future. Following the collapse of the Franco-German FCAS programme in June 2026, Dassault stands as France's lead for the sixth-generation successor — with India publicly seeking a partnership role in the programme.
Focus Areas
Rafale
The omnirole 4.5-generation fighter in land and carrier variants — the backbone of French air power and one of the world's most exported current-generation fighters.
Falcon Business Jets
The Falcon 2000LXS, 7X, 8X, and 6X — more than 2,700 business jets delivered since 1965, renowned for range, efficiency, and cabin refinement.
Mirage Legacy
The Mirage III, F1, and 2000 — the best-selling fighter dynasty of the Cold War era, flown by more than twenty air forces.
nEUROn UCAV
Europe's first stealth unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator — the technology pathfinder for Dassault's autonomous combat aircraft work.
Sixth-Gen Path
France's lead for the post-FCAS next-generation combat aircraft, with international partnership interest following the June 2026 programme collapse.