Aircraft
France Launches Atlantique 2 Upgrade
A French navy Atlantique 2 taxis for an operational mission over Mali from its base at Dakar in Senegal. The Atlantique 2 was also used for overland surveillance during the Libya campaign. (Photo: Marine Nationale)
A French navy Atlantique 2 taxis for an operational mission over Mali from its base at Dakar in Senegal. The Atlantique 2 was also used for overland surveillance during the Libya campaign. (Photo: Marine Nationale)

During a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Thales facility at Brest, French defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the contract that launches a major upgrade for the Marine Nationale’s Dassault Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. The upgrade equips the Atlantique 2 for service to at least its current planned out-of-service date of 2030, and beyond if its career is extended.