In a presentation to more than 400 customers, partners and aviation leaders at a new production hall in Bordeaux-Merignac, France, Dassault Aviation has unveiled the Falcon 10X, the most ambitious business jet the company has built to date. The programme was first announced in 2021.

“The objective,” says Dassault president and CEO Eric Trappier, “is to allow passengers to experience time on board the aircraft as just another part of their everyday life, not as a long interval between origin and destination, so they arrive feeling refreshed and at their very best.”

The Falcon 10X introduces the largest and most versatile cabin designed for a purpose-built business jet. Its interior is eight inches wider and two inches taller than its nearest competitor, enabling owners to design interiors that feel less like a traditional aircraft cabin and more like a modern living or working environment.

Delivering this comfort while maintaining efficiency and operational flexibility required innovation across nearly every aspect of the aircraft. Engineers applied expertise from Dassault’s military aircraft programmes to advance aerodynamics, materials, avionics and flight controls. Dassault remains the only manufacturer designing and building both advanced fighter jets and business aircraft – a cross-disciplinary advantage now reflected in the Falcon 10X.

The aircraft will cruise at speeds approaching the sound barrier with a top speed of 0.925 Mach and has a maximum range of 7,500nm, connecting city pairs such as New York to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Sydney, Sao Paulo to Dubai and Beijing to Paris.

Passenger comfort was engineered with equal attention. At a cruising altitude of 41,000ft, cabin pressure will be maintained at 3,000ft, complemented by 100 per cent fresh air continuously renewed and individually adjustable temperature zones. The fuselage features 38 extra large windows, nearly 50 per cent larger than the Falcon 8X, making it the brightest cabin in business aviation. Measuring nine feet, one inch wide (2.77m) and six feet, eight inches tall (2.03m), the cabin is larger than some regional jets and can accommodate three- or four-zone interiors including dining areas, privacy suites, full-size bedrooms and optional showers.

At the heart of the Falcon 10X is business aviation’s first all-composite wing. It combines traditional Dassault high-lift devices with a next-generation composite architecture that improves aerodynamic efficiency while reducing weight. The wing supports the aircraft’s large cabin while maintaining agility and runway flexibility.

“Dassault Falcons have always been at the vanguard of business aviation,” continues Trappier, “and the 10X is no exception, embodying the very best technology available today. From the user perspective, the equation is simple: an objectively better experience.”

The Falcon 10X introduces the NeXus flight deck, the most advanced cockpit ever installed in a business jet. Designed to reduce pilot workload and enhance situational awareness, especially during demanding phases of flight, the NeXus cockpit integrates large touchscreen displays with new automation tools that help crews manage complex missions. A standard dual FalconEye Enhanced Vision System adds further safety and capability in low visibility, aiding complex manoeuvres such as night circling approaches.

The aircraft also features the third generation of Dassault’s digital flight-control system, integrated with a smart throttle inspired by the Rafale fighter. The system manages both engines through a single control and assists pilots with noise-abatement climbs, stabilised go-arounds and the first automatic recovery mode in a large business jet.

Dassault pioneered fly-by-wire flight controls in business aviation with the Falcon 7X in 2007, which prevents overspeeding, overstressing or stalling while maintaining smooth flying qualities.

The new Pearl 10X engine uses the Advance2 engine core, combined with a high-performance low-pressure system, producing more than 18,000lbs of thrust. This improves efficiency, reduces noise and emissions, and allows operators premium airport accessibility and ultra long-range connections whilst also travelling close to the speed of sound.

“Today is a very special day for Rolls-Royce and the team. We are excited and proud to deliver the thrust for this extraordinary aircraft, and I would like to congratulate the Dassault family as well as the Falcon team on this special occasion," said Dr Dirk Geisinger, director, business aviation, Rolls-Royce, at the unveiling ceremony.

The Falcon 10X programme now moves towards flight testing, which will validate its performance and bring the most advanced Falcon ever built into service.