French Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI announced the start of strategic cooperation with the goal of integrating artificial intelligence solutions into Rafale fighter, future UAVs, and other aviation systems. The decision on this is accompanied by Dassault's investment in Harmattan AI within $200 million.
These funds are contributed within Series B investment round and, as noted, will be used to expand application of artificial intelligence systems in new operational theaters of war, expand Harmattan AI product range in new spheres, and scale production of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, drone interception and electronic warfare.
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And Dassault Aviation plans to integrate Harmattan AI solutions already in the next version of its fighter Rafale F5, specifically for controlling unmanned aircraft, that is, so-called loyal wingmen. And the F5 standard should enter service already in early 2030s.
Note that integrating combat artificial intelligence into currently available 4+ generation fighters is quite an interesting direction of their development, along with expanding their capabilities through drones. Specifically, Swedish Saab is already proceeding this way, having already integrated combat artificial intelligence into standard Gripen E. But the Swedes chose Project Beyond developed by German company Helsing. But the French quite expectedly concentrated on national solution.
It's also worth adding that Harmattan AI already has defense contracts. Specifically, in July 2025, Harmattan AI announced receiving a contract to supply French military with 1,000 drones. Its model wasn't named, but with high probability, we are talking about Mavic-class reconnaissance copter Sonora. The company also last year demonstrated its anti-aircraft drone Gobi without warhead for shooting down Shaheds.
And concluding defense contracts and receiving very powerful investments from defense giants for Harmattan AI is indeed explosive growth, because this startup was founded only in April 2024.
It's also worth recalling that Harmattan AI actively cooperates with representatives of Ukrainian defense-industrial complex. Specifically, Ukrainian Skyeton at the beginning of October last year also concluded a strategic partnership agreement with Harmattan AI.
And the companies focused, as was announced, on integrating Harmattan AI's advanced military sensor technologies into Raybird UAV, which is actively used by Ukraine's Defense Forcesand could quite possibly replace the failed Watchkeeper UAV in Great Britain.
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