© Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation has successfully flight-tested two new sovereign artificial intelligence algorithms aboard the Rafale fighter, marking another step towards the operational integration of AI into combat aviation.
One algorithm was developed by Dassault Aviation’s own engineers, while the second was developed in cooperation with Thales and its cortAIx artificial intelligence initiative.
According to Dassault, the work forms part of a broader effort to introduce controlled and supervised AI into the cockpit, supporting rather than replacing the human crew. Both algorithms have now reached a level of maturity that makes them eligible for consideration in future Rafale upgrades.
The company says integrating AI into an operational combat aircraft requires more than developing the algorithms themselves. Key challenges include access to reliable operational data, combining AI with specialist military expertise and ensuring that the technology can operate within the computing and resource constraints of an airborne platform.
The flight tests underline the growing role of artificial intelligence in the future development of combat aircraft, particularly as air forces move towards increasingly connected and collaborative operations.
Source: Dassault Aviation, 22 September 2026
Original Dassault Aviation announcement
Photo credit: © Dassault Aviation – A. Paringaux
Editorial note: AI-assisted editing.
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