Dassault Aviation flight-tested two AI algorithms on its Rafale fighter, one developed in-house and one with Thales, though technical details were not disclosed. The company said the systems are mature enough to be considered for future Rafale upgrades and emphasized they are designed to support, not replace, human crews. The trials follow the collapse of a Franco-German fighter project and reflect broader industry moves toward AI-assisted pilots and uncrewed "wingman" drones.
Dassault Flight-Tests AI Algorithms On Rafale, Clearing Path For Smarter Fighter Upgrades
FILE PHOTO: A Dassault Rafale C fighter jet is seen on the tarmac at Montoir-de-Bretagne Airport near Saint-Nazaire as part of ORION 26, a high-intensity warfare exercise, France, February 19, 2026. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
PARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - French planemaker Dassault Aviation said on Tuesday it flight-tested two new artificial intelligence algorithms on its Rafale fighter jet, part of an industry push to embed AI into future weapons systems and support human crews.
Dassault said one algorithm was developed by its in-house engineering team and the other in collaboration with French defence technology group Thales, a long-standing partner on the Rafale programme. The company did not disclose technical details of the experiments or the specific functions tested.
"They have reached a level of maturity that makes them eligible for future Rafale upgrades," Dassault said, indicating the software could be considered for upcoming enhancement packages.
The trials come as France weighs options for next-generation fighters or potential upgrades following the collapse earlier this year of a Franco-German project with Airbus, and as European governments press for greater strategic autonomy in defence capabilities.
Industry Context
Arms manufacturers worldwide are experimenting with AI to help pilots make faster, better-informed decisions and to enable coordination with uncrewed "wingman" drones designed to operate alongside traditional crewed fighters. Sweden's Saab said last year it conducted combat testing in which an AI-flown Gripen E engaged a human pilot, exploring concepts for future combat aircraft. In 2024, the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force flew in a modified F-16 equipped with machine-learning systems supplied by Shield AI to demonstrate collaborative crewed–AI operations.
Dassault stressed that the tested algorithms are intended to support human crews rather than replace them, and said the company remains capable of developing future fighters independently while staying open to cooperation with new partners.
(Reporting by Florence Loève; Editing by Tim Hepher and David Goodman)
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