ALTEA Delivers New Falcon 6X to Ireland’s Department of Defense

ALTEA has officially delivered a new Falcon 6X aircraft to the Government of Ireland to use for defense purposes.

This strategic reach aircraft is the first military-registered Falcon 6X and the second aircraft of its kind to be delivered to a European state by Dassault.

Dassault’s Falcon 6X can fit 14 passengers and complete long-haul flights from Ireland to the USA. It features:

• Maximum range of 5,500 nautical miles
• Maximum speed of 690 miles per hour
• Increased fuel efficiency

The acquisition of the aircraft followed a tender competition under the negotiated procedure set out in the Defence & Security Directive 81/2009/EC to acquire a new mid-sized strategic reach aircraft for air transport and broader utility use.

ALTEA offered advice on the procurement contract’s terms and defined and formalized the requirements, specifications, award criteria and scoring of the tender.

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy commented on the significance of this aircraft to the Irish Air Corps, sharing, “This aircraft represents a major step forward in the State’s strategic reach, delivering enhanced capability in airlift, medical evacuation, and government transport.”

Mulcahy continued, “Its range, performance and advanced systems will enable us to support Irish citizens and Defence Forces personnel across the globe with greater speed, safety and flexibility.

“The arrival of the Falcon 6X also comes at an important moment in our development as we progress toward becoming an Air Force,” added Mulcahy, “It reflects not only an investment in modern equipment, but in the future role, ambition, and operational reach of Ireland’s air capability.”

Jean Sémiramoth, ALTEA partner, said, “ALTEA provide a highly experienced team to manage projects of this scale and sensitivity.”

Sémiramoth continued, “Working with complete trust and discretion, we collaborated closely with the team at the Irish Air Corps and Department of Defence over a nine-month period to strengthen the State's transport with an aircraft ideally suited for a range of operations…”

Sémiramoth listed key applications, including:

• Airlift
• Medical evacuation
• Transferring patients
• Evacuating citizens
• Tansporting supplies abroad

“Remarkably, our team was able to quickly establish and formulate key objectives: working closely with all stakeholders allowed ALTEA to meet their needs for rationalising and expediting the whole process, effectively and efficiently,” noted Sémiramoth.

Robin Dunlop, ALTEA partner responsible for interiors and completions, explained, “The Falcon 6X is designed to meet a multiplicity of operational requirements and as such the interior is flexible, hard-wearing, and practical.”

Dunlop added, “It features a modern suite of avionics, secure communications, and the latest operational and safety equipment.”