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French defense tech company Harmattan AI<\/a> is rising almost as fast as the supersonic planes of its new backer. Founded in 2024, the company is now valued at $1.4 billion<\/a> after raising a $200 million Series B round led by Dassault Aviation, which is best known for making the Rafale fighter jet.<\/p>\n Harmattan AI, which builds autonomy and mission-system software for defense aircraft, had already received strong validation signals from the French and British ministries of defense in its less than two years of existence. But this funding and the accompanying partnership will give new wings to a company that once described itself<\/a> as a \u201cEuropean Anduril.\u201d<\/p>\n Like its American peer, Harmattan AI once aspired to overtake defense incumbents, which are also known as primes. But the company is now also ready to partner with them \u2014 even if it means no longer calling itself<\/a> \u201ca next-generation defense prime.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Harmattan\u2019s latest press release, the now \u201cdefense technology company\u201d will help Dassault Aviation shape the future of air combat by developing embedded AI capabilities for its next generations of Rafales and drones while making sure this implementation is both sovereign and scalable.<\/p>\n The use of drones in Ukraine has been a wake-up call for NATO armies, creating tailwinds for defense tech startups that can help them adapt. According to Harmattan AI, which recently partnered<\/a> with Russian drone maker Skyeton, the funding will help it extend its product offering into new domains and scale manufacturing of its platforms for drone interception, electronic warfare and ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance].<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron praised the announcement on social media<\/a>, calling it \u201cexcellent 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.\u201d<\/p>\n While important for France, this strategic play isn\u2019t exclusive. Harmattan AI\u2019s stated goal of \u201cempowering the armed forces of liberal democracies and their allies\u201d leaves some wiggle room for the company to sell its technology beyond France and Europe. The company is already putting this into action: it will exhibit<\/a> at the World Defense Show in Riyadh next month, and is expanding its U.S. team<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco<\/span> The company claimed a new record<\/a> in July when it was awarded<\/a> a \u201cmulti-million-U.S. dollar contract by a NATO government\u201d for the delivery of AI-enabled small drones, just one year after its founding. But according to its CEO and co-founder, Mouad M\u2019Ghari, Harmattan AI is now \u201centering a new phase of scale\u201d as it seeks to \u201cramp-up manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n In that same LinkedIn post<\/a>, the entrepreneur disclosed that the new funding comes in addition to the $42 million Harmattan AI had raised to date, including a seed round led by Atlantic and a Series A led by FirstMark, with other backers including Motier Ventures and Sisyphus Ventures.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Harmattan AI\u2019s CTO and co-founder Martin de Gourcuff chose<\/a> a different note with political undertones. \u201cAs the international order goes off the rails,\u201d he wrote, \u201cwe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n