Falcon orders in 2024 totaled 26, with an uptick toward the end of the year. This bodes well for the future, even though it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue. With our finger, as ever, on market needs, we are currently in the midst of renewing our range. The ramp-up in production of the Falcon 6X is beginning to bear fruit.
Development work on the Falcon 10X continues apace, with initial deliveries slated for the end of 2027. This too is an ambitious program, involving the launch of the largest Falcon yet.
In both our civil and military businesses, after-sales support is an area in which we have been investing heavily, emboldened by the strong export performance of the Rafale and the launch of the Falcon 6X.
In terms of our facilities, we are opening a brand new Dassault Aviation plant in Cergy, the first in over 50 years. This state-of-the-art facility will take over from its predecessor in Argenteuil. In a country that has lost half its industrial base in just a few decades, this is an investment of which we are extremely proud. The same applies to the buildings being constructed in Mérignac (as well as those scheduled for construction in Little Rock), which are involved in the development of the Falcon 10X.
These positive 2024 figures should not obscure the fact that we are still experiencing challenges when it comes to manufacturing. Like the rest of our sector, the supply chain shortcomings that prevented us from reaching our Falcon delivery target last year are still a concern. Our planning process requires constant fine-tuning, and we need to further strengthen coordination between our design and manufacturing teams. Our objective is to deliver 25 Rafales and 40 Falcon jets in 2025.
Our other priorities include: the ongoing integration and training of a large number of new recruits (some 2,400 in 2024); further expansion of the Make in India program, which is a precondition for future Rafale orders from the Indian government; digital transformation, based on 3DExperience and SAP solutions; the quality and, above all, the safety of our products.
In short, we are fortunate to be able to look forward to a future where we shall have an abundance of aircraft to design, manufacture and support. Despite today’s uncertain world, of this we can be sure.
I am confident that Dassault Aviation will remain strong, that our long-standing working relationship with the French government will persist, and that the Dassault family, whose forebear founded the company and who are our main shareholders, will continue to place their trust in us.
