Dassault flies AI aboard Rafale
A representative F5-standard Rafale was displayed at the Paris Air Show 2025. Dassault has now flown AI aboard the aircraft with a view to future upgrades. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Dassault has flown sovereign French artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms aboard its Rafale combat aircraft, the company announced on 22 September 2026.
Two AI algorithms were tested as part of a broader French initiative to integrate controlled and supervised AI into the Rafale's cockpit.
“They have reached a level of maturity that makes them eligible for future Rafale upgrades,” Dassault said.
As noted by the company, the first AI algorithm was developed by Dassault, with the second developed in collaboration with Thales/cortAIx.
News of the flight test of an AI agent aboard the Rafale came weeks after Dassault and Harmattan AI announced in July 2026 that they had flown a new electronic warfare (EW) collaborative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the combat aircraft. The test sortie saw an F4-standard Rafale control a UAV equipped with the Namib EW payload developed by both companies.
For more, please see Dassault, Harmattan AI fly new EW collaborative UAV for Rafale
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
