Dassault Aviation

Dassault Aviation, a French group founded in 1929 by Marcel Bloch, originally under the name Société des Avions Marcel Bloch, has a storied legacy in the aerospace industry. The company's name was changed to Dassault, reflecting Marcel Bloch's adopted pseudonym (Marcel Dassault) after World War II.

The company's early years saw the development of the MB.210 bomber, which became a mainstay of the French Air Force during the 1930s. During World War II, Marcel Bloch was imprisoned due to his refusal to collaborate with the Nazi regime. Post-war, the rebirth of the company was marked by the groundbreaking design and production of the Ouragan jet fighter, the first French-designed military jet to enter mass production in 1951.

A significant milestone came in the 1950s when Dassault introduced the Mystère series, notably the Mystère IV, which secured contracts with the U.S. Air Force and several other NATO countries, highlighting the company's burgeoning international influence. The 1960s saw the advent of the Mirage series, with the Mirage III being prominently used during the Six-Day War and becoming a symbol of advanced military aviation technology.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Dassault continued to innovate with the Mirage F1 and the Mirage 2000, both extensively used by various air forces around the world. Perhaps equally compelling was the diversification into civilian aircraft with the Falcon series, starting with the Falcon 20. This business jet rapidly gained popularity for its performance and luxury, carving a niche in the corporate aviation sector.

In recent decades, Dassault's Rafale multirole fighter jet has epitomized advanced military aviation, serving the French forces and gaining acclaim globally. Dassault has also been a critical player in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and continuously pioneering advancements in stealth technology.