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| Dassault Falcon 8X. Photo: Dassault |
[Avionics Today 03-17-2016] Dassault Aviation will deliver 10 long-range Falcon 8Xs, including one to an Indian customer, by the end of this year.
“We expect the country’s accelerating economic growth to translate into rising Falcon sales going forward,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier.
While Dassault has not yet released the name of the Indian customer, the Indian Air Force has experience with Dassault fighters, whose technologies, such as digital flight control, served as the basis for that on the Falcon 7X. While the Indian fleet consists mainly of Dassault’s Falcon 2000 twinjet and Falcon 2000LXS, the majority of new Indian Falcon orders are for longer range models such as the Falcon 7X and the new ultra long range Falcon 8X.
The 8X is Set to be certified in mid-2016. The three 8X’s in the flight test program have nearly completed all certification test requirements, having accumulated more than 550 flight hours to date. The 8X will offer advanced technological features, including the digital flight control suite and will be certified with the advanced FalconEye Combined Vision System (CVS).
Dassault also predicts strong demand among Indian customers for the new Falcon 5X very large body twin, which is currently in development and due to enter service in 2020.