The French "Archangel" took off: the Dassault Archange spy plane took to the air for the first time

 

Dassault Archange

Well, he's finally in the sky — the French Dassault Archange electronic reconnaissance aircraft has made its maiden flight. This is not just another test, but an important stage in the creation of one of the most classified and technologically advanced machines in the arsenal of the French Aerospace Forces. Imagine: a plane that doesn't shoot, doesn't bomb, but knows everything. About where the enemy is, what he's broadcasting, what kind of equipment he has—and he's doing it from a great height, while remaining almost invisible.

Archange is being developed jointly by two French defense giants: Dassault Aviation, which is responsible for the aircraft — its design, aerodynamics, piloting — and Thales France, which supplies the "brains" — all electronic stuffing. It is Thales that makes systems capable of intercepting signals, analyzing radio emissions, finding radars, and even determining the type of equipment the enemy has. In simple terms, this is not just a scout — it is a "big-eared" supercomputer on wings.

Archange is based on the already proven Falcon 8X business jet. Why him? Because it has an excellent range, altitude and, most importantly, stealth. This means that it is more difficult to detect it, which means that it can get closer to the "hot" zones and collect maximum data without risking being shot down.

What's cool about this car? The fact that it works in real time. All the information that it "catches" on the air is immediately processed and transmitted to the command. This allows the French army to literally see the electromagnetic battlefield — where radars are turned on, where negotiations are taking place, where forces are concentrated. It's as if you turned on "god mode" in military strategy and saw not only the units, but also their communications.

By the way, the name "Archange" (which means "Archangel" in French) was chosen for a reason. This is a hint that the plane is like a celestial observer, always in the sky, always on guard, but at the same time almost elusive.

So far, there are few details — as it should be for such a secret program. But the first flight is already a signal: France is seriously modernizing its intelligence. And now she will have her own "super spy" in the sky, able to keep abreast of any conflict zone.