Dassault Aviation facts for kids
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| Société Anonyme | |
| Traded as | Euronext Paris: AM CAC Mid 60 Component |
| ISIN | ISIN: [https://isin.toolforge.org/?language=en&isin=FR0014004L86 FR0014004L86] |
| Industry | Aerospace Defense Space industry |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
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Key people
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Éric Trappier (Chairman and CEO) |
| Products | Civil aircraft Military aircraft Space activities |
| Revenue |  €6,230,000,000 (2024) |
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Operating income
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€519,000,000 (2024) |
| €1,050,000,000 (2024) |
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| Total assets | €27,720,000,000 (2024) |
| Total equity | €6,330,000,000 (2024) |
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Number of employees
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14,600 (2024) |
| Parent | Dassault Group |
Dassault Aviation SA is a French company that builds airplanes. They make both military planes and private jets for businesses. The company was started in 1929 by a person named Marcel Bloch.
At first, it was called the Marcel Bloch Aircraft Company. After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault. So, on January 20, 1947, the company's name also changed to Avions Marcel Dassault.
In 1971, Dassault bought another company called Breguet. This created a new company called Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation (AMD-BA). In 1990, the company became Dassault Aviation. It is now part of a larger group called the Dassault Group.
Éric Trappier has been in charge of Dassault Aviation since January 9, 2013.
Contents
The Story of Dassault Aviation
Marcel Bloch started the company in 1929. In 1935, Bloch and Henry Potez bought another company together. This company was later renamed.
In 1936, the French government took control of many arms companies, including parts of Bloch's company. Marcel Bloch was asked to help manage these companies. During World War II, when Germany occupied France, the aviation industry almost stopped. Marcel Bloch was held by the French government in October 1940. In 1944, he was sent to a concentration camp by the German occupiers. He stayed there until it was freed on April 11, 1945.
After the war, on November 10, 1945, the company changed its structure. On January 20, 1947, it officially became Société des Avions Marcel Dassault. This new name reflected Marcel Bloch's new name, Marcel Dassault.
Growing with New Technologies
In 1954, Dassault started an electronics part of the company. This part began making radars for airplanes. Soon, they also made parts for missiles and tools for navigation and bombing. From the 1950s to the late 1970s, selling planes to other countries became a big part of Dassault's business. Their Dassault Mirage series and Mystere-Falcon jets were very popular.
In the mid-1960s, the French government wanted its defense companies to focus on specific types of aircraft. Dassault was chosen to specialize in combat planes and business jets. Other companies focused on missiles or transport planes.
On June 27, 1967, Dassault bought most of Breguet Aviation. This was encouraged by the French government. The two companies officially merged on December 14, 1971. The new company was named Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation (AMD-BA).
In 1981, Dassault Systèmes was created. This company was made to develop and sell Dassault's computer-aided design (CAD) program, called CATIA. Dassault Systèmes became a leader in this type of software.
Changes in Ownership
In 1979, the French government bought a 20% share in Dassault. Later, in 1998, the French government gave its shares in Dassault Aviation (45.76%) to another company called Aerospatiale. In 2000, Aerospatiale-Matra merged with other European companies to form EADS, which is now known as Airbus.
In 2000, Serge Dassault stepped down as chairman. Charles Edelstenne took his place. Serge Dassault was then named honorary chairman. In October 2000, Dassault also bought an American company called Atlantic Aviation.
Airbus sold some of its ownership back to Dassault in 2014. They reduced their share even more in 2015 and 2016. In April 2024, Serbia signed a large deal with Dassault to buy planes. This was the biggest weapons deal in Serbia's history.
Dassault's Other Companies
Sogitec
Sogitec is a company fully owned by Dassault. It creates advanced flight simulators for pilots. It also makes 3D images and systems for managing documents.
Aircraft Made by Dassault
Military Aircraft
Dassault Aviation has made many famous military aircraft over the years.
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- Breguet family (now part of Dassault)
- MD 315 Flamant, 1947 (a light transport plane)
- MD 450 Ouragan, 1951 (the first French-designed jet fighter)
- Mystère series, starting 1951 (fighter jets)
- MD 452 Mystère I, II, III
- MD 454 Mystère IV
- Super Mystère
- Étendard series, starting 1956 (naval fighter jets)
- Dassault Étendard II
- Dassault Étendard IV
- Super Étendard
- Mirage series (very famous fighter jets):
- Dassault Mirage III, 1956
- Dassault Mirage IV (strategic bomber), 1959
- Dassault Mirage 5, 1967
- Dassault Mirage F1, 1966
- Dassault Mirage 2000, 1978
- Dassault Mirage 4000, 1979 (a prototype)
- Balzac V, 1962 (an experimental vertical take-off jet)
- Atlantique (ATL 1), 1965 (a maritime patrol aircraft)
- Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet (made with Dornier), 1973 (a light attack and training jet)
- SEPECAT Jaguar (made with BAC), 1973 (a ground attack aircraft)
- Rafale, 1986 (a modern multirole fighter jet)
- nEUROn, 2012 (an experimental stealth drone)
- New Generation Fighter, (a future fighter jet to replace the Rafale)
Civilian Aircraft
Dassault also builds planes for civilian use, especially business jets.
- Falcon family (popular business jets):
- Mercure (a commercial airliner, only 12 were built)
Where Dassault Builds and Works
Production Facilities
Dassault has several places where they build planes and parts:
- St. Cloud, France: This used to be an engine and fighter plant. Now it focuses on advanced simulation systems and is a technical headquarters.
- Argenteuil, France
- Biarritz, France: This plant was acquired from Breguet in 1971.
- Merignac, France
- Nagpur, India: This is a joint company called Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL). It's a partnership with an Indian company. It started in 2017 and makes parts for Falcon jets and Rafale fighters. In June 2025, it was announced that this facility will also be the first outside France to fully assemble the Dassault Falcon 2000LXS jet. It will also be a center for other Falcon jets. The first Falcon 2000 from this Indian facility is expected to fly in 2028.
Service Centers
Dassault has places to repair and maintain their planes around the world:
- United States, France, China, Brazil
- Noida, India: Dassault is setting up a special facility here called Dassault Aviation Maintenance Repair Overhaul India (DAMROI). This center will fix and maintain the Dassault Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale planes used by the Indian Air Force. It will also service planes for the Indonesian Air Force.
Sales Offices
Dassault has offices to sell their planes in many countries:
- China, Greece, Malaysia, Oman, Russia, Taiwan
Images for kids
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A Dassault Falcon 2000 business jet.
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A Dassault Falcon 900 business jet.
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A Dassault Falcon 7X business jet.
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A Dassault Falcon 6X business jet.
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The Dassault Mercure commercial airliner.
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See also
- Dassault Group
- Dassault Falcon
- Dassault Rafale
- Mirage 2000
- nEUROn
