French defense technology firm Harmattan AI is ascending with remarkable speed, much like the supersonic aircraft produced by its newest investor. Established in 2024, the company has reached a valuation of $1.4 billion following a $200 million Series B investment led by Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jet. Harmattan AI develops autonomy and mission-system software for military aircraft and had already garnered significant support from French and British defense ministries within its first two years. This fresh capital and strategic partnership are set to accelerate the growth of a company that once identified itself as a “European Anduril.”

Similar to its U.S. counterpart, Harmattan AI initially aimed to challenge established defense contractors, often referred to as primes. The company now expresses openness to collaborating with these industry leaders, even if that means stepping back from the label of a “next-generation defense prime.”

According to its recent announcement, Harmattan AI—now described as a “defense technology company”—will collaborate with Dassault Aviation to advance the future of air combat. The focus will be on developing embedded AI capabilities for upcoming generations of Rafale jets and drones, ensuring these solutions are both sovereign and scalable. The extensive use of drones in Ukraine has served as a critical alert for NATO militaries, generating momentum for defense tech startups that can assist in adaptation. Harmattan AI, which recently entered a partnership with Russian drone manufacturer Skyeton, states the funding will enable it to broaden its product range and scale production of platforms for drone interception, electronic warfare, and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). French President Emmanuel Macron applauded the news on social media, calling it “excellent news for our strategic autonomy, for the technological superiority of our armed forces in the field of AI-activated defense drones, as well as for our economy.”

While strategically significant for France, Harmattan AI’s ambitions are not confined to one nation. The company’s stated mission of “empowering the armed forces of liberal democracies and their allies” allows flexibility to market its technology beyond France and Europe. This approach is already in motion: Harmattan AI plans to exhibit at the World Defense Show in Riyadh next month and is expanding its team in the United States. The company also reported a milestone in July, securing a “multi-million-U.S. dollar contract from a NATO government” for AI-enabled small drones—just one year after its founding. According to CEO and co-founder Mouad M’Ghari, Harmattan AI is now “entering a new phase of scale” as it works to “ramp-up manufacturing.”

In a related update, M’Ghari noted that this new investment supplements the $42 million previously raised by the company. Earlier funding included a seed round led by Atlantic and a Series A led by FirstMark, with additional support from Motier Ventures and Sisyphus Ventures. Meanwhile, Harmattan AI’s CTO and co-founder, Martin de Gourcuff, struck a more philosophical tone with political resonance. “As the international order goes off the rails,” he wrote, “we are entering an era where, increasingly, power precedes law. A reversal of the civilized world we strive for. Harmattan AI exists to protect our values and flip that relationship back, as power without law is just mere violence.”