* Big-cabin jet completes pair of designs after

shorter-range 6X

* Aims to compete with largest Bombardier, Gulfstream

models

* Dassault CEO says too early to gauge Middle East impact

* Future production will depend on level of orders, CEO

says

(Adds CEO comments on orders, Middle East conflict, supply

chains)

By Tim Hepher

MERIGNAC, France, March 11 (Reuters) - Dassault Aviation

rolled out its latest long-range business jet, the

Falcon 10X, late on Tuesday as the French planemaker challenges

North American rivals at the top end of the luxury aircraft

market.

The new $80-million jet features the market's largest cabin

and will be capable of linking cities like New York and

Shanghai, Dassault said at a ceremony for suppliers and dozens

of wealthy potential buyers at its Merignac factory in France.

The launch of a new flying penthouse comes as planemakers

compete to serve the ultra-wealthy and heads of state at the top

end of the luxury jet market, though CEO Eric Trappier said

corporations would make up the bulk of projected sales.

"The role of this airplane is to fly very long distances

while ensuring maximum comfort and security," he told reporters.

The twin-engine aircraft, originally expected in operation

in late 2025, then 2027, will conduct a maiden flight "soon" and

enter service towards the end of the decade, Trappier said.

Analysts have said the 10X's dinner party-sized cabin and

marathon range could set up a closer three-way race against the

largest models from Canada's Bombardier and General

Dynamics' ( GD ) Gulfstream unit, both of which delivered about

four times more jets in total than Dassault in 2025.

Demand among wealthy travellers and corporations to fly

private remains strong following an uptick during the pandemic.

U.S. aerospace firm Honeywell ( HON ) predicts 8,500

business jet deliveries worth $283 billion over the next decade.

Dassault declined to say how many orders it had received for

its newest and most powerful jet, which will have a range of

7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km) and compete with Bombardier's

Global 8000 and Gulfstream's G800.

TOO EARLY TO ESTIMATE IMPACT OF MIDDLE EAST CRISIS

In a first for the French family-controlled company, which

also makes Rafale combat jets, Dassault's new clean-sheet design

comes with engines from Britain's Rolls-Royce.

The Falcon 10X was first announced at the height of the

COVID-19 pandemic and is now being seen in public for the first

time just as conflict erupts in the Middle East.

Trappier said it was too early to gauge the impact of the

conflict on the business jet industry, which depends on the

Middle East for 3% of its deliveries, according to Honeywell ( HON ).

"There is no immediate impact, but there are risks," he

said.

Development of the Falcon 10X was delayed by the pandemic,

which inflicted industry-wide pressure on supply chains.

The smaller Falcon 6X entered service in 2023 after delays

also blamed on the pandemic.

Trappier declined to estimate future 10X output, saying this

would depend on orders, for which he did not give a target.

Analysts are watching to see if it ramps up more smoothly than

the shorter-range Falcon 6X.

"With the Falcon 6X we really had supply chain problems and

so we will learn from that experience," Trappier said.

(Additional reporting by Allison Lampert. Editing by Emelia

Sithole-Matarise and Mark Potter)