French defence technology startup Harmattan AI has raised $200 million in a Series B funding round led by aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, valuing the company at $1.4 billion.
The fundraise marks a major milestone for the Paris-based company, which develops autonomous drones for military use. It also formalises a strategic partnership that will see Harmattan’s technology embedded into future air combat systems designed by Dassault.
Strategic backing from Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is one of Europe’s most influential aerospace manufacturers, best known for its Rafale fighter jet and Falcon business aircraft. Its decision to lead Harmattan’s Series B signals growing confidence in autonomous systems as a core component of next-generation defence capabilities.
As part of the partnership, Harmattan’s AI-driven drone technology will be integrated into Dassault-led combat platforms, supporting collaborative air operations where crewed aircraft and autonomous systems operate together.
Harmattan cofounder Mouad M’Ghari said the partnership represents a turning point in the development of autonomous defence systems, combining advanced artificial intelligence with decades of military aviation expertise.
Building autonomous drones at scale
Founded in 2024, Harmattan AI focuses on producing low-cost, high-volume autonomous drones designed for deployment in large numbers. The company is currently developing three core product lines.
The first is a training-focused system designed to support military exercises and operational readiness. The second is a surveillance drone intended for persistent monitoring and intelligence gathering. The third is an interceptor drone built to detect and neutralise incoming threats.
This product mix reflects growing demand from defence ministries for flexible, scalable systems that can be adapted to different mission profiles without relying solely on expensive crewed aircraft.
Securing long-term defence programmes in France and the UK
Harmattan has already secured two programmes-of-record with the French and UK ministries of defence, a significant achievement for a company less than two years old.
In July last year, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed an order for 1,000 drones from Harmattan. Several months later, the company announced it would deliver 3,000 systems as part of a multi-million pound programme led by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The company says it is currently delivering thousands of drone systems each month, indicating that its manufacturing processes are already operating at meaningful scale.
From early funding to unicorn status
Before the Series B round, Harmattan AI raised $42 million in early-stage funding from a group of international investors, including US venture capital firm FirstMark and Germany-based Atlantic VC.
The latest funding brings Harmattan’s total capital raised to more than $240 million and places the company among a small group of European defence technology startups to reach unicorn status.
The Series B capital will be used to further scale manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply chains, and expand deployment of Harmattan’s drones across additional military environments and operational contexts.
Responding to rising demand for autonomous defence systems
European governments are increasing investment in autonomous and AI-enabled defence technologies as geopolitical tensions rise and military doctrines evolve. Systems that can be produced at scale and deployed rapidly are becoming a priority for defence planners.
Harmattan’s focus on affordability, volume production, and integration with existing military infrastructure positions it well within this shift. The partnership with Dassault further strengthens its role in shaping future European air combat capabilities.
As Harmattan continues to expand production and deepen partnerships with major defence contractors, the company is emerging as one of the most closely watched defence tech startups in Europe.
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