The French Air Force is working to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into its Rafale and Mirage fighter jets through a project called HypAIRion, which began in July. The goal of this initiative is to unify all AI-related efforts on French aircraft, with the aim of achieving "collaborative combat" by 2028. This involves using drones to work alongside fighter jets. At the Mont-de-Marsan base, two Mirage 2000s have been converted into AI test platforms. Dassault, the maker of the Rafale, reported in July that it successfully tested a drone from the startup Harmattan AI by simulating a radar strike from "dozens of kilometers away." Collaborative combat drones are described as "simplified, unmanned fighter jets, simpler and especially cheaper," according to Colonel Cédric, head of the development capacity office at the Air and Space Staff. These drones are designed to force enemies to reveal themselves by activating their radars, and they can carry weapons. This allows risks to be taken on unmanned platforms rather than manned ones. AI is expected to help pilots with all their tasks, reducing their workload and increasing efficiency. This is especially important because pilots face a "high cognitive load" in a fast-changing environment filled with evolving aerial threats. General Engineer Sébastien, director of the Rafale program at the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), explained that pilots currently handle multiple responsibilities, including flying the aircraft, managing sensors and radar, understanding the tactical situation, choosing preferred options, and organizing work within their patrol. He anticipates that AI will assist in these tasks, offering greater reactivity and efficiency. In aerial combat, the pilot who detects, understands, decides, and acts faster than the opponent has the advantage, and AI is expected to help in this process. A "first concrete contribution" of AI is the planned use of AI in the Talios laser designation pod by 2027. This device, mounted under the aircraft, allows the pilot to see better and detect targets. The pod can scan an area of interest, observe the scene, and use AI to analyze images and identify potential targets, such as vehicles that could be a threat or a priority. During this analysis, the crew can focus on other tasks. Dassault announced in September that it had tested two new sovereign artificial intelligence algorithms in flight on two aircraft. One was developed by the aircraft manufacturer itself, and the other in partnership with Thales/cortAIx. These algorithms are part of an overall strategy to integrate AI into the cockpit in a way that is controlled and supervised, supporting the human crew. The company is working on the new version of the Rafale, the F5, a mid-life upgrade expected to be available around 2034. On this new version, "all the new equipment (...) is designed to integrate artificial intelligence," according to Dassault. General Engineer Sébastien of the DGA predicts that the Rafale will become even more reliant on AI to maintain air superiority. However, AI will remain an assistant and will not make critical decisions, such as firing a shot. One option ruled out by France is completely replacing the human pilot with AI in the cockpit of the Rafale. The presence of a pilot in the plane is expected to remain a constant.