Dassault Aviation and cortAIx sign a strategic partnership

Dassault Aviation and Thales, through their artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator, cortAIx, have established a strategic partnership aimed at the development of controlled and supervised AI for defence aeronautics. This agreement was formalised on November 18 by Eric Trappier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation, and Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. The announcement was made on November 25 during the International Adopt AI Summit, held at the Grand Palais in Paris under the auspices of the French President.

Dassault Aviation, recognised as an architect of collaborative air combat systems, alongside cortAIx, is dedicated to the development of sovereign AI solutions. These solutions are intended to enhance the functionality of both manned and unmanned aircraft in aspects such as observation, situational analysis, decision-making, planning, and control during military operations.

Pascale Lohat, Chief Technical Officer at Dassault Aviation, remarked, "This partnership underscores our commitment to research and innovation programs focused on the future of collaborative air combat and the integration of AI into aeronautical defence systems. This initiative stems from strategic discussions initiated by Dassault Aviation and Thales’ AI accelerator, cortAIx, and exemplifies our joint commitment to developing trusted, sovereign, and controlled artificial intelligence for the armed forces."

The collaboration between Dassault Aviation and cortAIx aims to foster a sustainable partnership within a high-level global ecosystem. Their collective efforts adhere to national and European ethical principles and regulations, including the AI Act.

Mickael Brossard, Vice-President of cortAIx Factory at Thales, stated, "cortAIx will bring to this strategic partnership the best of Thales’ technological heritage, enriched by decades of military experience, while simultaneously leveraging the innovation accelerator's agility and dynamics. With operations in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, and plans to expand to the United Arab Emirates, cortAIx relies on established technological partners to convert AI advancements into practical assets for sovereignty and operational efficiency."

The partnership was presented to attendees at the Adopt AI event on November 25 through a detailed illustration of the research and innovation initiatives currently supported by the European Defence Fund. Dassault Aviation and Thales, via cortAIx, articulated their strategy for a controlled, supervised, sovereign, secure, and trustworthy AI dedicated to the service of humanity, before an audience comprising representatives from prominent French and European institutional, academic, and economic organisations present at the event.

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