French Air Force to Test AI-Powered Loyal Wingman Drones in 2028
France's Air Force, in conjunction with the Directorate General for Armament and the defense artificial intelligence agency, intends to conduct a trial in 2028 involving crewed fighter jets operating alongside combat drones. This initiative, named Hypairion, aims to explore artificial intelligence applications in combat aviation. A key objective is to establish open, modular architectures for combat aircraft and develop sovereign AI technology, ensuring government control over critical systems and reducing reliance on external companies. The project will modify two Mirage 2000s at Mont-de-Marsan airbase into AI test beds.
Why it matters
The Hypairion project aims to develop sovereign AI technology and open, modular architectures for combat aircraft, giving the French government greater control over critical defense systems.
Source: Defense News — read the original
Source published 2 Oct 2026, 13:59 UTC