Rafale F5 set for AI-powered combat leap as Dassault makes $200m investment
January 13, 2026
Dassault announced it will invest in French startup Harmattan AI as part of an effort to integrate advanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities into its upcoming Standard F5 of the Rafale fighter jet.
Dassault invests $200 million into Harmattan AI
In another development heralding the future of fighter jet combat, France’s Rafale maker, Dassault Aviation, is investing $200 million in Harmattan AI. This is part of the tech startup’s Series B funding round, which totals $1.4 billion.
The partnership aims to accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy and artificial intelligence technologies into combat aviation systems.
French President Emmanuel Macron said of the deal, “This is excellent news for our strategic autonomy, for the technological superiority of our armed forces in the field of AI-enabled defence drones, and for our economy.”
The strategic partnership is to “accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy and AI technologies into combat aviation systems.”
🇫🇷 La société a levé 200 millions de dollars lors d'un tour de table mené par Dassault Aviation. ➡️ https://t.co/FRqU0TjdSY pic.twitter.com/Qo3SdDH6Xx
— Les Echos (@LesEchos) January 12, 2026
The investment is to be used to expand the deployment of AI-enabled missions, including manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for the future F5 standard of the Rafale. The Rafale F5 is expected to become operational from 2030.
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The rapid rise of AI-startup Haramattan AI
Haramattan AI is a startup company based in Paris, building autonomous drones and related defence products.
Harmattan AI is developing vertically integrated autonomous systems that include layered air defence solutions. It is also working on autonomous ISR and strike UAVs, and more. The company was only founded in 2024 and is already one of the fastest-growing players in its sector, “delivering thousands of systems each month.”
Harmattan AI has been awarded multiple military contracts by the French and British Ministries of Defence for its autonomous systems. These are now scaling globally due to burgeoning demand.
Mouad M’Ghari, CEO and Co-Founder of Harmattan AI, stated, “This partnership with Dassault Aviation marks a decisive step in the emergence of a new generation of autonomous defence systems… we are shaping the future of collaborative air combat.”
Drive to AI-enabled fighter jets
In its press release, Dassault hailed the partnership, saying it will enable new AI capabilities to be embedded in Dassault’s future air combat systems.
It named the upcoming Rafale F5 as well as UCAS aircraft, as intended recipients of Harmattan AI’s technology. It added that the new AI systems will be “particularly for the control of unmanned aerial systems.” Suggesting that the focus is on developing loyal wingman drones for Rafales.
AGN recently reported that South Korea’s KAI and Sweden’s Gripen maker, Saab, had agreed to a partnership to explore autonomous fighter jet capabilities.
The rapid development of advanced combat drones has become a priority for the German Air Force, which is now trailblazing their introduction by around 2029.
The US Air Force has been developing various AI systems for its fighter jets for years. Perhaps one of the most famous examples is Project VENOM, to turn decommissioned F-16s into advanced AI-driven fighter jets.
Meanwhile, Shield AI has taken a bold step to develop what it calls the first fully autonomous tail-sitting fighter jet.
With Rafale F5 on track for service from 2030, the investment underscores how AI and controlled autonomy are becoming central to the next generation of European combat airpower.
Featured Image: Dassault
