2023 Annual Report

Proud of our model

Operating in an unpredictable environment in which taking a very long-term view is key, our fundamentals are solid. Our strength lies in a unique development model and very loyal customers. We owe our longevity to our ability to envision the future and adapt to new challenges.

Strategic mission

We play a key part in France’s national defense by supplying military aircraft, as well as by providing associated support. We have acquired strategic expertise in the design and management of a high-performance and reliable air combat system. Fighter aircraft and their accompanying operational systems constitute the cornerstones of security and deterrence in the face of significant threats.

Dassault Aviation manufactures conventional combat systems. The export of military hardware is the exclusive prerogative of the French government, and is subject to a stringent system of regulatory controls.

Dual expertise: civil and military

Our dual civil-military expertise means that we can count on markets with different business cycles, thus reducing our exposure to fluctuating economic conditions. Our civil and military jet aircraft are designed in the same department and manufactured in the same plants. The state-of-the-art technology developed for military use also benefits our civil aviation business, which in turn generates innovations in terms of production and certification.

Governance and family values

Dassault Aviation is the only aerospace group in the world that is still owned by the family of its founder, Marcel Dassault. This unwavering backing from our main shareholder ensures the stability of our management team: Eric Trappier is only the fifth CEO in a century. This enables us to take a long-term view, which is a major asset in aviation where cycles stretch over decades: an aircraft may well stay in production for 25 years and remain in service for 40 years or more.

Our stability allows us to uphold the values that have driven Dassault Aviation’s success: technical excellence and innovation; a passion for aeronautics; quick strategic decisions; adaptability in the face of change; the determination to meet objectives; efficient management and competitiveness; and a human resources policy designed to attract and retain top talent.

Profit-sharing

Dassault Aviation takes a unique approach to sharing profits with its French employees, based on fair distribution: under special agreements, €170 million in profit-sharing and incentive payments were redistributed based on 2023 financial results. €266 million in dividends were proposed to our shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on May 16, 2024. Dassault Aviation pays the bulk of its taxes in France: 83% in 2023, which represented a contribution of some €539 million to the public purse.