Dassault Aviation has flight-tested two new AI algorithms aboard a Rafale fighter jet, bringing the technology closer to potential use in future cockpit and combat-system upgrades.
The French firm developed one algorithm in-house and the other in collaboration with Thales’ cortAIx unit.
Dassault said the tests were part of a broader effort to integrate controlled, supervised AI into the Rafale cockpit to support its crew.
The algorithms are reportedly mature enough for further consideration, although their individual functions have not been disclosed.
Bringing AI into a combat aircraft requires high-quality operational data, specialist expertise, and systems that can run within the limited computing resources available onboard, Reuters reported.
Other fighter programs are exploring similar technology. Saab has tested AI against a human pilot aboard a Gripen E, while the US Air Force has demonstrated AI-enabled aerial combat using a modified F-16.
