Defense & Military
Dassault Aviation Invests $200M in Harmattan AI Defense Startup
Dassault Aviation leads a $200M funding round in Harmattan AI, enabling AI integration in future combat aviation platforms like Rafale F5.
This article is based on an official press release from Dassault Aviation.
In a significant move to bolster European sovereign defense capabilities, Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI have announced a strategic partnership centered on a $200 million Series B funding round. The investments, led by the French aerospace giant, values Harmattan AI at $1.4 billion, officially granting the Paris-based startup “unicorn” status less than two years after its founding in April 2024.
According to the official announcement, the deal is designed to accelerate the integration of “controlled autonomy” and artificial intelligence into combat aviation systems. Specifically, the partnership aims to embed Harmattan’s software stack into Dassault’s future platforms, including the Rafale F5 standard and the upcoming Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS).
The funding round also included participation from previous investors FirstMark Capital, Atlantic Labs, and Kima Ventures. The capital injection will support Harmattan AI’s rapid industrial scaling and international expansion.
The core of this agreement goes beyond financial investment; it represents a technological convergence between a historic aerospace prime and an agile software-defined defense company. Dassault Aviation stated that the collaboration focuses on developing “sovereign, controlled, and monitored AI” for military applications.
The partnership is explicitly linked to the development of the Rafale F5 standard, expected to enter service around 2030. This standard is designed to operate in tandem with autonomous drones, often referred to as “loyal wingmen.” Harmattan AI’s technology is expected to provide the autonomous “brain” for these accompanying systems, allowing them to execute complex missions under the supervision of manned aircraft.
In a press statement, Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, emphasized the necessity of this evolution:
“This partnership with Harmattan AI reflects our commitment to integrating high-value autonomy into the next generation of combat air systems.”
, Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation
Founded in April 2024, Harmattan AI has rapidly positioned itself as a key player in the European defense sector. The company’s mission is to build “vertically integrated autonomous systems” that are attritable,low-cost enough to be lost in combat without strategic failure,and scalable.
The company is led by CEO Mouad M’Ghari, a former quantitative researcher, alongside a founding team with backgrounds in commercial drones and machine learning from companies such as Parrot, Withings, and senseFly. Their approach combines mass-market hardware manufacturing techniques with advanced AI software.
Harmattan AI currently markets three primary product lines, named after deserts:
According to data released alongside the funding announcement, Harmattan AI has already secured substantial contracts. These include an order for 1,000 drones from the French Ministry of Armed Forces, scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025, and a contract for 3,000 autonomous systems with the UK Ministry of Defence.
“By combining frontier AI with world-class military aviation expertise, we are shaping the future of collaborative air combat.”
, Mouad M’Ghari, CEO of Harmattan AI
This investment signals a critical shift in the European defense landscape. Historically, European primes have relied on lengthy development cycles for proprietary software. By investing in Harmattan AI, Dassault Aviation is effectively outsourcing the rapid iteration of AI algorithms to a specialized startup, mirroring the dynamic seen in the United States between traditional primes and new entrants like Anduril Industries.
The valuation of $1.4 billion highlights the premium the market places on “sovereign AI.” With geopolitical tensions rising, European governments are increasingly prioritizing domestic technology stacks to reduce reliance on non-European suppliers for critical autonomous systems. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly endorsed the partnership, describing it as essential for “strategic autonomy.”
Harmattan AI is positioning itself to compete directly with other high-valuation defense tech companies such as Germany’s Helsing and the U.S.-based Shield AI. The “Defense Unicorn” status validates the “software-first” approach to modern warfare, where the value lies as much in the autonomy algorithms as in the airframe itself.
Sources: Dassault Aviation Press Release
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Photo Credit: Dassault Aviation