PARIS — French defense technology startup Harmattan AI has unveiled IRIFI, an autonomous long-range loitering one-way attack drone designed to strike targets up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away.
The company says IRIFI is intended to attack targets such as logistics hubs, airfields, command posts, factories and depots, marking Harmattan AI’s entry into the long-range deep-strike weapons category.
Autonomous Navigation and Strike
According to Harmattan AI, IRIFI operates without human control after launch and does not rely on satellite navigation systems such as GPS.
The drone uses an onboard navigation system, while a camera-based guidance system takes over during the final approach to identify the target. Harmattan AI says this enables meter-level accuracy and allows IRIFI to fly close to the ground to reduce radar detection.
The system is designed to operate in environments affected by GPS jamming and spoofing.
Mobile Launch and AI-Assisted Mission Planning
IRIFI is launched from a mobile canister launcher designed for rapid deployment and large-scale production.
Before launch, commanders select and confirm targets and establish mission parameters. An AI-assisted management system processes large volumes of satellite imagery to support this planning.
Once launched, IRIFI operates within the predefined mission parameters. Harmattan AI says a single commander can coordinate dozens of simultaneous strikes.
The company has not disclosed the drone’s unit cost, payload capacity, speed, development or testing status, or initial customers.
Harmattan AI CEO and co-founder Mouad M’Ghari said the system is intended to combine the scalability associated with the Shahed with the precision and survivability of more expensive missiles such as the Tomahawk and Storm Shadow.
Rapid Expansion of Harmattan AI
Founded in Paris in 2024, Harmattan AI raised $200 million in Series B funding in January 2026 in a round led by Dassault Aviation, valuing the company at $1.4 billion.
The two companies are collaborating on AI and autonomy technologies for Dassault’s future combat aircraft and uncrewed systems. In July 2026, they completed a collaborative flight test involving a Rafale fighter and Harmattan AI’s NAMIB electronic warfare payload.
Harmattan AI has also secured major defense programs in Europe. The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 3,000 unmanned systems in 2025, while the company reported in June 2026 that its orders from the French military had increased fivefold over the previous year.
Existing Unmanned Systems
Before IRIFI, Harmattan AI focused on tactical systems including the Gobi short-range air-defense interceptor, Sahara surveillance drone and Barkhan tactical strike system.
Its Sonora tactical quadcopter weighs 1.8 kilograms (approximately 4 pounds) and has a reported 40-minute flight time. It is used by French forces for reconnaissance, training and operational readiness and has also been referred to as DELCO in company and official statements.
France ordered 1,000 Sonora systems in 2025, followed by another 5,000 units announced in June 2026, with deliveries of the additional batch due by early 2027.
Morocco to Pursue IRIFI Cooperation
On October 7, 2026, during the opening of the Marrakech Air Show, Morocco’s National Defence Administration and Harmattan AI Morocco signed letters of intent covering the purchase, development and production of IRIFI systems in Morocco.
The agreement follows a broader partnership announced in June 2026 with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces covering local manufacturing, an AI research and development center, and cooperation with Moroccan universities and research institutions.
Specific details on the number of Moroccan IRIFI systems, costs and production timelines have not been disclosed.
IRIFI expands Harmattan AI’s portfolio from tactical unmanned systems into long-range autonomous strike capabilities, with the company positioning the system for operations in contested electromagnetic environments.
——— End of Article ———