Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A Dassault-Breguet Atlantique of Flottille 23F, French Navy based at Lann-Bihoué Naval Air Station in Brittany, France, putting on a display on Sunday of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 at RAF Fairford, UK.
The Bréguet Atlantic was developed in the mid-1960s to meet a NATO requirement to replace the Lockheed Neptune maritime patrol aircraft. Specifically designed for the role, the Atlantic, known as the Atlantique in French service, features a retractable radome, a large weapons bay, a magnetic anomaly detector and the ability to launch sonar buoys. During the 1970s a further updated version was produced known as the Atlantique 2 which included more powerful computers and radars plus the ability to carry the Exocet anti-ship missile. The same model that is shown here, together with an inert Exocet missile within its bomb bay.
The French Navy originally took delivery 40 Atlantique 1s before ordering a further 28 Atlantique 2s. Today, only the Atlantique 2 remains in service and has been redesignated as the ATL2. In order for the type to remain relevant in the modern battlespace the French Navy are constantly updating the airframe and the most recent update included the inclusion of the same radar system as used in the Rafale, greatly enhancing its capabilities. The ATL2 is planned to remain in service until 2035.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
A Dassault-Breguet Atlantique of Flottille 23F, French Navy based at Lann-Bihoué Naval Air Station in Brittany, France, putting on a display on Sunday of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 at RAF Fairford, UK.
The Bréguet Atlantic was developed in the mid-1960s to meet a NATO requirement to replace the Lockheed Neptune maritime patrol aircraft. Specifically designed for the role, the Atlantic, known as the Atlantique in French service, features a retractable radome, a large weapons bay, a magnetic anomaly detector and the ability to launch sonar buoys. During the 1970s a further updated version was produced known as the Atlantique 2 which included more powerful computers and radars plus the ability to carry the Exocet anti-ship missile. The same model that is shown here, together with an inert Exocet missile within its bomb bay.
The French Navy originally took delivery 40 Atlantique 1s before ordering a further 28 Atlantique 2s. Today, only the Atlantique 2 remains in service and has been redesignated as the ATL2. In order for the type to remain relevant in the modern battlespace the French Navy are constantly updating the airframe and the most recent update included the inclusion of the same radar system as used in the Rafale, greatly enhancing its capabilities. The ATL2 is planned to remain in service until 2035.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
