Dassault Aviation, the French maker of military aircrafts and business jets, led a €200 million Series B funding round in autonomous drone maker Harmattan AI on 12 January 2026, valuing the Paris-based startup at €1.4 billion and establishing France's first defence unicorn. The strategic partnership aims to develop embedded AI for Dassault Aviation's future air combat systems, particularly for control of unmanned aerial systems.
Founded in 2024, Harmattan AI has experienced rapid growth, securing multiple Programmes of Record from the French and UK Ministries of Defence for its autonomous systems portfolio whilst deploying technology with NATO and allied partners. The new funding significantly increases from the company's previous Series A valuation, driven by growing interest from major industrial players, and adds to the $42 million Harmattan AI had raised to date, including a seed round led by Atlantic and a Series A led by FirstMark. Proceeds will expand deployment of AI-enabled products and scale industrial manufacturing of platforms for intelligence, search and reconnaissance, drone interception and electronic warfare, with the company currently employing more than 130 people.
The €1.4 billion valuation marks a significant milestone for European defence technology, establishing Harmattan AI as France's first defence unicorn and reflecting the strategic importance of autonomous systems in modern warfare. The partnership with Dassault Aviation underscores the integration of AI-driven capabilities into established defence platforms, demonstrating how emerging technology companies are reshaping the defence industrial landscape. Harmattan AI's rapid trajectory from founding in 2024 to unicorn status illustrates the accelerating convergence of artificial intelligence and military applications across NATO member states.
Sources:
1. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/01/12/dassault-aviation-invests-in-harmattan-ai-at-14-billion-value/
2. https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/harmattan-ais-200-million-series-b-led-by-dassault-aviation/
3. https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/12/harmattan-ai-raises-200m-series-b-led-by-dassault-aviation-becomes-defense-unicorn/
