Dassault Aviation has inaugurated a new production facility in Cergy, northwest of Paris, marking the first time since the 1970s that the French aerospace group has opened a new manufacturing site. “A question of sovereignty”“This is the first time since the 1970s that Dassault Aviation has commissioned a new production site,” Trappier said during the event. The only exception is the production of small primary parts, which has been reassigned to Dassault’s Seclin facility. The company has expanded its workforce from approximately 12,000 to 14,500 in recent years and plans to ramp up Rafale production to three aircraft per month starting in 2026. This extensive supply chain highlights the domestic industrial base that Dassault relies on for both its military and civilian programs.