Dassault-CortAIx Partnership: Dassault Aviation and Thales have agreed to work together on new artificial intelligence that will stay controlled and supervised for defence aviation. Thales will take part in this project through cortAIx, its trusted AI accelerator. The two companies signed the deal on 18 November.
Eric Trappier, the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Patrice Caine, the Chairman and CEO of Thales, signed the partnership. They later announced it on 25 November at the Grand Palais in Paris during the International Adopt AI Summit, an event held under the patronage of the French President.
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Building AI that is Under Control
Dassault Aviation designs advanced air combat systems, and cortAIx brings AI experience from Thales. Now both sides will develop new sovereign AI tools that can help pilots and drones. These tools will support tasks like observation, reading situations, making decisions, planning and control during military missions.
Pascale Lohat, the Chief Technical Officer at Dassault Aviation, said, “This partnership is reflected in research and innovation programmes dedicated to the collaborative air combat of the future, with a view to incorporating AI into aeronautical defence systems. It is the culmination of strategic discussions launched by Dassault Aviation and Thales’ AI accelerator, cortAIx, and illustrates our shared commitment to trusted, sovereign and controlled artificial intelligence for the armed forces.”
She explained that the companies want long-term cooperation and want to stay aligned with national and European rules, including the AI Act.
Trusted Defence AI
Dassault Aviation and cortAIx plan to build a strong international ecosystem that will continue to work on these AI systems. Their goal is to make AI that stays safe, clear, and under human supervision. At the same time, they want the technology to support sovereignty so countries can rely on AI they fully control.
Mickael Brossard, Vice-President of cortAIx Factory at Thales, said, “cortAIx will bring to this strategic partnership with Dassault Aviation the best of Thales’ technological heritage, enriched by decades of military experience, combined with the agility and dynamics of a powerful innovation accelerator.
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Present in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and soon in the United Arab Emirates, cortAIx relies on recognised technological partners to transform AI advances into concrete levers of sovereignty and efficiency.”
Both companies shared this partnership with guests at the Adopt AI event on 25 November. They presented a large visual demonstration to explain the goals and ambitions of their research programmes. These projects receive support from the European Defence Fund. Dassault Aviation and Thales also described their plan for AI that stays controlled, supervised, sovereign, secure and trustworthy. They presented this in front of key French and European leaders from government, universities and major industries.
