On 7 October 2026, the Falcon 8X ARCHANGE (Archangel) made its first landing at Évreux Air Base (BA 105) in France. Developed to strengthen the intelligence-gathering capabilities of Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (the French Air and Space Force), the aircraft is scheduled to be based there and will soon commence operations. The arrival marked another important step towards introducing the new airborne intelligence system into service.
The Falcon 8X ARCHANGE landed for the first time at its future home base as part of preparations for the system’s operational introduction. During the visit, Centre d’expertise aérienne militaire (the Military Air Expertise Centre – CEAM), through its ARCHANGE Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) team, ROEM 11.334, participated in trials involving the loading and deployment of operational equipment.
These activities were conducted in cooperation with the French Direction générale de l’armement (the Directorate General of Armaments – DGA) Flight Tests, Dassault Aviation and Thales, with support from the Airborne Electronic Warfare Squadron 5/64 “Dunkerque”.
On 8 October, the aircraft and its mission system were presented to the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, together with senior military and civilian representatives. The presentation took place during an event organised in Évreux by Institut des hautes études de la défense nationale (the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies – IHEDN), showcasing the capabilities of Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
The ARCHANGE system is intended to replace the Transall Gabriel, which was withdrawn from service in 2022, and significantly strengthen the French Air and Space Force’s Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities. Its primary task will be to collect and analyse adversary electromagnetic emissions, providing a better understanding of opposing forces and their operational environment.
The new system will enable the real-time updating and dissemination of the adversary’s electronic order of battle. It will also contribute to expanding databases and electronic warfare libraries essential for preparing air missions.
The intelligence gathered by ARCHANGE will give the French Air and Space Force a more comprehensive picture of the electromagnetic environment. This capability will be particularly important for identifying potential threats, supporting operational decision-making and improving the protection of aircraft deployed on missions, especially during air raids in contested environments.
During the development phase, the CEAM plays a central role in evaluating the new system. Its ARCHANGE SIGINT team, ROEM 11.334, is responsible for conducting technical and operational assessments to verify whether the system meets the requirements of the armed forces and to prepare it for operational use.
The first landing at Évreux is part of a gradual process aimed at preparing the aircraft and its mission equipment for future service. Under the ARCHANGE programme, three aircraft and three ground-based systems are scheduled for delivery to the French Air and Space Force by 2028–2029.
Once operational, the new capability will provide the AAE with an advanced airborne intelligence-gathering platform, enabling to identify and characterise potential threats more effectively and support the planning and conduct of air operations.
Information from the press releases of the French Ministry of Defence – published on the MoD page in October 2026 – were used, in accordance to the etalab-2.0 licence. All photos © the French Ministry of Defence.
