The story
In 1958 NATO asked for a long-range patrol aircraft to replace the Neptune, and Breguet won with the Atlantic: a double-bubble fuselage with a pressurised crew deck on top and a 9-metre weapons bay underneath, two Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprops, and a magnetic anomaly detector in a boom on the tail. A European consortium built 87 for France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, and Pakistan later flew three ex-French aircraft. Dassault followed with 28 Atlantique 2s. Every other operator has retired the type. The French Navy took delivery of its 18th and last Standard 6 upgraded ATL2 in February 2026, based at Lann-Bihoué in Brittany, and plans to replace it by 2035.
The search radar sits in a radome that retracts into the belly, and the sting in the tail is a magnetic anomaly detector, which senses the disturbance a submarine's steel hull makes in the Earth's magnetic field.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2?
A long, slim twin turboprop with a straight mid-mounted wing, a deep double-bubble body, pods on the wingtips and a pointed boom sticking out behind the tail. French Navy grey. Its base, Lann-Bihoué, is just west of Lorient in Brittany.
What does a Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 sound like?
Two big Tyne turboprops with a deep, droning beat; low over the coast it is a long, sustained growl.
How fast is the Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2?
Top speed is 350 kts.
How many people does the Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 carry?
Typical configuration: Crew of 12 on long maritime patrols (Atlantique 2).
How far can the Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 fly?
Range is about 18 hr endurance.
How big is the Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2?
It is 103 ft 9 in long and 122 ft 9 in across the wings.
When did the Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1961.
How many Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2s have been built?
115 (87 Atlantic, 28 Atlantique 2) built.
How rare is a Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first Atlantic / Dassault Atlantique 2 catch is worth 250 points.
