The French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced its decision to launch the Strategic Intelligence Aircraft Program “Universal Electronic Warfare Capacity” (CUGE) on 28 February. This new program will see Thales' new sensor to be integrated on a Falcon business aircraft built by Dassault Aviation. 

The three CUGE strategic intelligence aircraft will replace the two Transall C-160 Gabriel currently in service from 2025 and will strengthen the capabilities of intelligence of electromagnetic origin and contribute to the particular effort on the function “knowledge and anticipation” of the French armies, the ministry said.