Dassault Aviation, cortAIx partnership for a sovereign AI serving the air combat of the future

Dassault Aviation and Thales, through cortAIx, its artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator, entered a strategic partnership for the development of controlled and supervised AI for defense aeronautics. This partnership was signed in November by Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Patrice Caine, Chairman & CEO of Thales.

Dassault Aviation, an architect of collaborative air combat systems, and cortAIx, Thales’ trusted AI accelerator, are teaming up to develop sovereign AI solutions. These cover the functions for manned and unmanned aircraft, for observation, situation analysis, decision-making, planning and control during military operations.

“This partnership is reflected in research and innovation programs dedicated to the collaborative air combat of the future, with a view to incorporating AI into aeronautical defense systems,” says Pascale Lohat, Chief Technical Officer at Dassault Aviation. “It's 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.”

Dassault Aviation and cortAIx are developing a lasting cooperation with a high-level, global ecosystem. Their work is carried out in accordance with national and European ethical principles and regulations (AI Act).

“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,” says Mickael Brossard, Vice-President of cortAIx Factory, Thales.

“Present in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and soon in the United Arab Emirates, cortAIx relies on recognized technological partners to transform AI advances into concrete levers of sovereignty and efficiency.” This partnership was presented in November to the guests of the Adopt AI event, via a large-scale illustration of the ambitions of the research and innovation programs and initiatives currently supported by the European Defence Fund. Dassault Aviation and Thales, through cortAIx, presented their strategy for a controlled, supervised, sovereign, secure and trustworthy AI in the service of humanity, in front of an audience of representatives from the main French and European institutional, academic and economic bodies participating in the event.