viation News – Dassault Aviation and Thales have formed a long-term strategic partnership to develop controlled and supervised artificial intelligence for future air combat, a move that strengthens Europe’s position in next-generation military aviation technology.
Announced on November 25, 2025, the agreement was signed a week earlier by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier and Thales CEO Patrice Caine. The deal was unveiled at the International Adopt AI Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, underscoring the growing focus on AI-enabled capabilities in future combat air systems.
The partnership aims to advance AI tools designed to support pilots, improve situational awareness, and streamline decision-making in high-intensity operations. Both companies plan to integrate supervised AI that ensures human oversight remains central to mission-critical functions.
“This collaboration marks a decisive step in ensuring that Europe develops responsible, high-performance AI for tomorrow’s air combat needs,” Dassault Aviation said in a statement highlighting the importance of secure and controlled AI development.
The joint effort is expected to accelerate innovation across upcoming fighter platforms and cooperative combat aircraft. It also signals a broader industry push to embed safe and ethically governed AI into future defense programs.
Together, Dassault and Thales intend to reaffirm their leadership in advanced aerospace technologies. Their partnership could shape Europe’s approach to integrating AI into air combat, with further developments anticipated in the coming years.
