SAINT-CLOUD, France — Dassault Aviation has successfully flight-tested two new sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms aboard the Rafale fighter jet as part of its effort to introduce controlled and supervised AI into the aircraft’s cockpit.
One algorithm was developed by Dassault Aviation’s engineering teams, while the second was developed in partnership with Thales and its cortAIx AI entity. Dassault said both algorithms have reached a level of maturity that makes them candidates for future Rafale upgrades.
The systems are designed to assist pilots, not operate the aircraft autonomously. They are intended to help crews process information and support decision-making while keeping the human pilot in control.
Developing AI for military aircraft requires high-quality real and simulated operational data, specialised aviation expertise and the ability to run algorithms on embedded airborne computers. These systems must operate within strict constraints involving size, power and reliability.
AI Development for Rafale F5
The two algorithms form part of Dassault’s wider AI strategy for the Rafale, which covers aircrew assistance, collaborative operations with unmanned systems and predictive maintenance.
The technology is particularly relevant to the planned Rafale F5 standard, which is being developed to expand cooperation between the fighter, drones and other networked military platforms.
Dassault has also partnered with Harmattan AI on embedded AI and electronic-warfare applications. In a flight test earlier in 2026, an unmanned aircraft equipped with the jointly developed NAMIB electronic-warfare payload detected, identified and geolocated a radar target several dozen kilometres away before passing its coordinates to a Rafale F4 for a simulated engagement.
The collaboration with Thales and cortAIx follows a strategic partnership signed in November 2025 covering controlled and supervised AI for manned and unmanned aircraft, including observation, situation analysis, decision support, planning and operational control.
A separate partnership with Harmattan AI, announced in January 2026, aims to accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy into future air-combat systems, including the Rafale F5 and associated unmanned combat aircraft systems.
The latest flight tests demonstrate Dassault Aviation’s progress in integrating sovereign AI capabilities into the Rafale while keeping these functions under human supervision.
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