First French Falcon 8X Archange Arrives at Évreux for Trials

The first Falcon 8X Archange arrived at Évreux-Fauville Air Base on October 7, 2026, and began technical and operational trials led by the French Air and Space Force’s Military Air Expertise Center (CEAM).

Key details

• Testing has included loading trials and checks of operational equipment.
• CEAM has worked with the DGA, Dassault Aviation, Thales, and the air force unit expected to operate the aircraft.
• The Archange pairs a modified Dassault Falcon 8X with Thales’ CUGE, or Universal Electronic Warfare Capability, mission system.
• The aircraft is designed for signals intelligence and electronic-warfare support, including collecting electromagnetic emissions and distributing information about adversary electronic forces.
• The DGA ordered the program on December 30, 2019; the reported contract initially covered two aircraft.

France expects three Archange aircraft and three ground systems to be delivered by 2028–2029.

Why it matters

The Archange is intended to replace France’s C-160G Gabriel signals-intelligence aircraft, which retired in 2022. Its Falcon 8X platform and CUGE mission system bring the aircraft and its electronic-warfare equipment together in a new capability for the French Air and Space Force.

What happens next

France expects delivery of the three aircraft and three ground systems by 2028–2029 as the trials progress. Which capabilities will the Archange bring to France’s airborne intelligence fleet?