Five of the eight Falcon 50M aircraft of Flotilla 24F will eventually be modernized through the integration of new optronic sensors, significantly strengthening their maritime surveillance capabilities.
Since the early 2000s, the Falcon 50M aircraft of Flotilla 24F have played a vital role in maritime surveillance and search and rescue missions, supporting the State’s maritime operations. These missions, sometimes sensitive, take place within a context marked by the increase in maritime migration flows and the rise in illicit trafficking, which necessitate heightened vigilance and enhanced surveillance capabilities.
To maintain optimal border surveillance capabilities, an upgrade of the optronic equipment was necessary. The old, obsolete turrets were replaced by EUROFLIR 410 optronic cameras, chosen for their enhanced performance.
Mounted on retractable turrets, these cameras offer day and night detection and observation capabilities, enabling the monitoring of activities aboard suspicious ships and vessels. This technological upgrade now allows the Falcon 50M to detect illicit activities more effectively at external borders, combat any attempt at illegal entry into the territory, and provide an appropriate response.
This modernization was enabled primarily by European Union co-financing. The project received a grant under the Instrument for Financial Support to Border Management and Visa Policy (IFVV). With a budget of €215 million for the period 2021-2027, this European fund helps strengthen security and optimize border management in the face of increasing border crossings. It also contributes to the protection of the European Union’s external borders, the harmonization of visa policy, and the maintenance of a high level of internal security within the EU.