France has reached a key milestone in its airborne intelligence ambitions with the first flight of the Archange (Avions de Renseignement à CHArge utile de Nouvelle GEnération) spy plane.
Built on the long-range Falcon 8X business jet, Archange is designed to track and intercept radar and comms signals over vast distances. Its core system, Thales’ CUGE, also allows it to sniff out low-signature emissions that would otherwise go undetected.
The aircraft carries an array of high-end tech, including the FalconEye combined vision system, the EASY digital cockpit, and a three-engine setup for long-endurance missions.
The engines, developed by Pratt & Whitney Canada, enable a top speed of 953 kilometers (592 miles) per hour and a range of nearly 12,000 kilometers (7,456 miles).
With enough space for up to 19 passengers, the aircraft offers room for various mission systems and onboard operators, making it a versatile platform for real-time data gathering, signal analysis, and electronic warfare support.
According to the Directorate General of Armaments, Archange will serve as a key intelligence node in collaborative combat, supporting multi-domain awareness and enabling rapid decision-making across joint forces.
Replacing the C-160 Gabriel
The Archange fleet will replace the Transall C-160 Gabriel aircraft, which retired in 2022 after more than three decades of service in electronic reconnaissance and aerial intelligence roles.
While the older C-160G had a larger frame, it was significantly slower at 510 kilometers (317 miles) per hour and had a shorter range of about 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles), even with aerial refueling.
With no other French platform able to fill the void, Archange is expected to restore a critical national capability in airborne signal intelligence.
Ordered in 2019, three Archange spy jets are scheduled for delivery by 2030.
