First Falcon 50M for the French Navy

On 23 December 1999 Dassault delivered the first of four specially-modified Falcon 50M maritime surveillance aircraft to the French Navy. The aircraft had undergone successful acceptance trials at the hands of Dassault, the Navy and the national military flight test center (CEV). The remaining three Falcon 50Ms will be delivered during 2000. The Falcon 50M has been fitted with a Thomson-CSF OM 100 search radar and Chlio Flir. It also features bulged observation windows and a rescue stores drop hatch in the rear cabin. In the long-range search and rescue role, the Falcon 50M can drop eight 30-passenger rescue buoys in a single mission. The Falcon 50M is operated by a flight crew of two and a mission crew of three. The four aircraft will be deployed to French overseas bases around the world.