Dassault Aviation and Thales, through AI accelerator cortAIx, have formalised a strategic partnership to develop a sovereign, controllable AI stack for the Rafale F5 and crewed–uncrewed combat drones, reinforcing Paris’s 'Plan B' should the multinational FCAS programme be delayed or constrained.
Discovered |
Briefing
The pact creates a national fallback to FCAS as Paris presses partners on programme governance and timelines ahead of a December deadline for FCAS talks.
Building a sovereign, controllable AI stack targets operational autonomy for Rafale F5 and drone ecosystems while France ramps Rafale production and exports — the programme now counts 533 firm orders with 233 aircraft outstanding and is progressing toward a four-aircraft-per-month rate (Rafale production context).
The move follows heightened industrial tensions and Dassault demands for greater control within the €100bn FCAS programme, underscoring why France is investing in domestic capabilities alongside the multinational effort (governance and programme pressure).
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Dassault and Thales’ cortAIx partner on sovereign AI for future air combat • english.defensearabia.com
Dassault Aviation and Thales’ cortAIx partner to develop controlled, supervised AI for aircraft systems • airforce-technology.com
(TR) Dassault Aviation and Thales Form Strategic Partnership • airporthaber2.com
Dassault Aviation and Thales partner via cortAIx to develop sovereign AI for future air combat • aerospace-innovations.com
(FR) Air combat: Dassault and Thales join forces to develop an AI • air-cosmos.com
Dassault and Thales partner to develop sovereign AI for future air combat • indiastrategic.in
Dassault Aviation and cortAIx sign a strategic partnership • aeromorning.com
(FR) Dassault Aviation and cortAIx sign a strategic partnership • aeromorning.com
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