This article is based on an official press release from Dassault Aviation.

Dassault Aviation Leads $200 Million Investment in Defense Unicorn Harmattan AI

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.

Strategic Integration: The Future of Air Combat

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.

Rafale F5 and the “Loyal Wingman”

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

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Harmattan AI: A Rapid Rise

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.

Leadership and Technology

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:

• Sonora: A modular ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) drone weighing under 1.8 kg with a flight time exceeding 40 minutes.
• Sahara: A system equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather situational awareness.
• Gobi: A high-speed kinetic interceptor designed to ram hostile drones at speeds of 250 km/h without using explosives.

Market Traction

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

AirPro News Analysis

The Push for European Sovereignty

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.”

Competing with New Defense Primes

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

Sources: Dassault Aviation Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman and Kratos Selected for USMC MUX TACAIR Program

Northrop Grumman has been competitively awarded a contracts by the U.S. Marine Corps to develop the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR). The project, formally classified as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative, aims to field a sophisticated “loyal wingman” system capable of operating in high-threat environments alongside manned fighters.

Announced on January 8, 2026, the agreement positions Northrop Grumman as the prime contractor with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions serving as the key subcontractor. The team will integrate Northrop’s advanced mission systems into the flight-proven Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie airframe. This “best of breed” strategy is designed to accelerate the deployment of automation systems for the Marine Corps.

According to the announcement, the initial period of performance is set for 24 months with a contract value of approximately $231.5 million. The program’s primary objective is to rapidly develop, integrate, and field an uncrewed aircraft system (UAV) that meets the Marine Corps’ unique requirements for expeditionary operations.

Integrating “Prism” with the Valkyrie Airframe

The partnerships leverages the specific strengths of both defense firms. Northrop Grumman will act as the Lead Systems Integrator, providing the “Advanced Mission Kit.” This package includes sensors, communications, and software-defined technologies driven by “Prism,” Northrop’s proprietary autonomy software.

Kratos Defense will supply the XQ-58A Valkyrie, a stealthy, high-performance uncrewed aerial system that has already demonstrated its capabilities in flight. By utilizing an existing airframe, the team aims to bypass the long lead times associated with clean-sheet aircraft designs.

The Role of Software-Defined Autonomy

Northrop Grumman’s “Prism” software is central to the program’s adaptability. Described as an open-architecture system, Prism allows for the rapid integration of third-party modules or “apps.” This plug-and-play capability ensures that the Marine Corps can swap mission profiles, switching from electronic warfare to surveillance, for example, without needing to rewrite core flight code.

In a statement regarding the award, Krys Moen, Vice President at Northrop Grumman, emphasized the speed and reduced risk of this approach:

“This partnership offers a low risk, expedited path to mission capability. Combining a proven airframe with our proven mission systems avoids the delays inherent in a clean-sheet design.”

Strategic Capabilities for Expeditionary Warfare

The MUX TACAIR program is closely aligned with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 strategy, which prioritizes dispersed operations and “Stand-in Forces” in the Indo-Pacific region. A critical requirement for this program is runway independence.

The XQ-58A Valkyrie is designed to be launched via rocket assist from a rail system, which can be mounted on trucks or ships, and recovered via parachute. This capability eliminates reliance on traditional airfields, which are viewed as vulnerable static targets in modern conflict scenarios. The aircraft boasts high-subsonic speeds of approximately Mach 0.85 and a range exceeding 3,000 nautical miles, allowing it to serve as a forward sensor node or “quarterback” that relays targeting data to F-35s and ground units.

Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems, highlighted the economic and operational advantages of the platform:

“The integration results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the uncrewed systems to be deployed in mass.”

Program Timeline and Future Development

The immediate 24-month contract period will focus on integrating the Northrop mission kit into the Valkyrie airframe and conducting a series of flight tests. The program is structured around a “spiral” development model, where capabilities are added incrementally. Initial operational focuses are expected to include surveillance and electronic warfare, with lethal strike capabilities planned as the autonomy software matures.

The ultimate operational goal is to field a capability that can be deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) before the end of the decade, providing organic air support that does not require large aircraft carriers.

AirPro News Analysis

The selection of the Kratos Valkyrie for the MUX TACAIR program underscores a significant divergence between Air Force and Marine Corps acquisition strategies for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). While the U.S. Air Force has largely focused on runway-dependent systems for its CCA increments, the Marine Corps has remained steadfast in its requirement for runway independence.

By choosing a rail-launched, parachute-recoverable system, the USMC is effectively future-proofing its air support against runway denial tactics. Furthermore, the “attritable” nature of the Valkyrie, meaning it is low-cost enough to be lost in combat without catastrophic financial or strategic impact, aligns perfectly with the need for mass in contested environments. This contract validates the industry’s shift toward separating the airframe commodity from the high-value software and sensor packages, a trend that is likely to define the next generation of uncrewed military-aircraft aviation.

Sources

• Northrop Grumman

This article is based on an official press release from Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Cross-Border Autonomy with MDCX and Vigilance Integration

On January 8, 2026, Lockheed Martin successfully completed a live demonstration of its advanced command and control (C2) capabilities at the Predannack National Drone Hub in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The event highlighted the integration of U.S. and U.K. defense technologies, specifically pairing the U.S.-developed Multi-Domain Combat System (MDCX™) with the U.K.-developed Vigilance mission system.

According to the company’s announcement, the demonstration proved that a single operator could simultaneously manage multiple classes of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) within a secure, multi-domain environment. This achievement marks a significant step in coalition interoperability, offering a “suite of capability” designed to be exportable to international allies while maintaining high security standards.

Operational Details and Systems Integration

The demonstration featured a scenario where the MDCX™ autonomy platform commanded two distinct types of drones: the Indago 2 quadcopter (Group 1) and the Stalker fixed-wing UAS (Group 2). While MDCX managed the flight autonomy and mission planning, the Vigilance system handled sensor data fusion.

Lockheed Martin described the technical breakdown of the systems involved:

• MDCX™ (Multi-Domain Combat System): Developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, this platform utilizes Open Mission Systems (OMS) and Universal Command & Control Interface (UCI) standards. It allows for the management of heterogeneous vehicles, reducing the cognitive load on human operators.
• Vigilance: Developed by Lockheed Martin UK, this software-defined system evolved from mission systems used on the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 helicopters. During the demo, it fused real-time drone data with synthetic feeds to generate a comprehensive battlefield picture.

In a specific test of mission capability, the Indago 2 drone utilized a Software Defined Radio Payload to re-broadcast sonobuoy data, simulating an anti-submarine warfare mission managed by the integrated systems.

Lockheed Martin successfully completed a live demo of its ‘suite of capability’ for uncrewed system command and control featuring the MDCX™ and Vigilance.

— Lockheed Martin Press Release

AirPro News Analysis: Strategic Implications for Defense Exports

This demonstration addresses a longstanding friction point in international defense acquisitions: the balance between purchasing advanced U.S. platforms and maintaining sovereign control over mission data. By integrating the U.K.-sovereign Vigilance Software with the U.S. MDCX architecture, Lockheed Martin is validating a modular approach to defense sales.

We observe that this “Open Architecture” model aligns with the U.S. Department of Defense’s vision for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). Rather than relying on proprietary, closed-loop systems, the industry is shifting toward modularity that allows allies to plug domestic sensor algorithms into U.S. operating systems.

Furthermore, the specific platforms used in this demonstration, Stalker and Indago, are directly relevant to the British Army’s “TIQUILA” program. Awarded to Lockheed Martin UK in late 2022, the £129 million TIQUILA contract focuses on providing uncrewed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This successful integration suggests a pathway for enhancing those existing assets with advanced autonomy and cross-domain connectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the “Marsupial” concept mentioned in related reports?
While this specific demonstration focused on simultaneous control of separate assets, the underlying architecture supports “marsupial” operations, where larger drones launch and recover smaller uncrewed systems. This capability is increasingly relevant for extending the range and survivability of ISR assets in contested environments.

How does this technology handle security between nations?
The system utilizes a Multi-Level Security (MLS) architecture. This design allows data to be shared securely between U.S. and allied networks, overcoming technical barriers that have historically complicated coalition warfare and data sharing.

Sources

• Lockheed Martin