Dassault Aviation has taken the lead in a $200 million Series B funding round for Harmattan AI, formalising a strategic partnership aimed at advancing AI-powered autonomy for future military aviation systems.
The partnership targets the development of monitored and controlled artificial intelligence capabilities for use across manned and unmanned aircraft. These technologies are intended to support Dassault Aviation’s future air combat initiatives, including the Rafale F5 configuration and emerging unmanned combat air system concepts, particularly for missions involving coordinated drone operations.
Harmattan AI develops AI-enabled solutions for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, counter-drone operations, and electronic warfare, and has already delivered capabilities under multiple programmes of record for the French and UK defence ministries.
Funding from the Series B round will enable the company to expand deployments into new operational settings, broaden its product offerings into additional mission domains, and increase manufacturing capacity to meet anticipated demand.
Dassault Aviation’s move aligns with a wider industry trend among leading defence primes to deepen investments in artificial intelligence and autonomy, driven in part by European priorities around defence technology sovereignty and secure control of sensitive software.
The partnership supports Dassault’s broader work on next-generation combat aircraft and collaborative combat ecosystems centred on manned–unmanned teaming. Under the agreement, Dassault Aviation will contribute its expertise in complex military systems architecture, integration of mission systems in contested environments, and global market access through its established defence export channels.
