Thales has recently been awarded two prestigious distinctions from the PERSEUS program, conferred by the French Navy, the Délégation Générale de l'Armement (the French procurement agency), and the Agence de l’Innovation de Défense (the Defence Innovation Agency). Following the recognition received in 2023 for its Sentinel electronic warfare solution, Thales has achieved certification for two additional innovative products: CURCO, a compact electronic warfare payload designed for drones, and Golden AI, an artificial intelligence-based analytical tool for electronic warfare data. These solutions were formally presented at the 2025 Forum on Innovation and Defence.
CURCO is engineered as a lightweight and compact external payload that can be adapted to any drone or air, sea, or land vehicle, thereby fulfilling the SWAP requirements (size, weight, and power). The system can delineate the electromagnetic environment across a broad frequency spectrum, offering precise, rapid, and reliable detection of enemy radar emissions. CURCO provides operators with advanced tactical intelligence in real time, facilitating improved situational awareness. Its user-friendly interface and compatibility with various mission software programs were validated through experimental trials conducted in realistic operational conditions, specifically during two collaborative exercises with the French Navy in 2024 and 2025. Future enhancements of CURCO will incorporate an optional onboard jammer intended to disrupt detected enemy radar systems.
Regarding Golden AI, this innovative tool signifies a major advancement in cognitive electronic warfare by introducing two key functions that facilitate the analysis of data obtained from radar interceptors (R-ESM) at a rate up to four times faster than previous methods. First, it enables the training of artificial intelligence models utilising databases of recorded radar electromagnetic interceptions. Second, it allows for the analysis of electromagnetic interceptions collected during missions to identify corresponding radar types and augment the database. By streamlining and expediting the analytical process, Golden AI diminishes the operators’ workload while enhancing the precision of interception reports. During evaluations conducted on both land and aboard vessels during the Clemenceau 25 exercise, Golden AI demonstrated its proficiency in managing the capitalisation database of the Navy. Furthermore, it facilitated the debriefings of onboard operators, accelerated analysis on the ground, and improved overall situational awareness, all while ensuring data sovereignty through reliable and scalable artificial intelligence.
Established in 2003, the PERSEUS prize aims to promote the integration of critical technologies by fostering collaboration among sailors, DGA engineers, and industrial stakeholders to swiftly equip armed forces. As the mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum becomes increasingly vital in a complex and densely populated operational landscape, CURCO and Golden AI address essential needs for both the French Navy and the international market.
With over 60 years of experience in the field of electronic warfare, Thales serves as a key partner for both French and European defence initiatives, reaffirming its capability to assist military forces in detecting and neutralising radar threats across diverse environments.
In the words of Marie Gayrel, Vice President of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance at Thales, “We take great pride in receiving the PERSEUS label once again for our advancements in electronic warfare. This recognition underscores our commitment to innovation and our dedication to rapidly developing tangible solutions that demonstrate their value through operational exercises conducted with and for the armed forces.”
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