Dassault Aviation has completed a flight test that paired its Rafale F4 fighter with an unmanned aircraft carrying a compact electronic warfare payload, demonstrating a new way to detect and locate hostile radar systems before a strike.<\/p>\n
The demonstration involved NAMIB, an electronic warfare system developed with French startup Harmattan AI. During the exercise, the drone identified a radar installation from several dozen kilometers away, calculated its location, and relayed the coordinates to the Rafale. The fighter then simulated an attack on the target, showcasing how crewed aircraft and low-cost drones can cooperate during future combat missions.<\/p>\n
Lightweight electronic warfare<\/p>\n
NAMIB is designed to detect, classify, and geolocate electromagnetic emissions, especially those generated by air defense radars. Engineers built the payload for multiple unmanned platforms, allowing operators to install it on small quadcopters or larger fixed-wing drones with longer endurance.<\/p>\n
That flexibility gives military planners more options when gathering intelligence near contested airspace. Instead of exposing expensive crewed aircraft to enemy defenses, operators can send smaller autonomous systems closer to threats while keeping fighter jets<\/a> farther from danger.<\/p>\n Dassault said the flight validated the exchange of targeting data between the unmanned platform and the Rafale F4. After receiving the drone\u2019s information, the fighter successfully completed a simulated engagement against the radar site.<\/p>\n Rafale expands drone teamwork<\/p>\n The project began in January 2026 under a strategic partnership between Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI. Both companies aim to integrate greater autonomy into future air combat operations by combining crewed aircraft with expendable unmanned systems.<\/p>\n Dassault Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier said<\/a> the exercise demonstrated the Rafale F4\u2019s ability to operate as part of a broader multi-domain force. He added that the aircraft\u2019s F4 architecture supports communication with a wide range of operational assets, including ground units. According to Trappier, the test also showed how the fighter can benefit from NAMIB\u2019s electromagnetic detection and geolocation capabilities while supporting a \u201chigh-low mix\u201d of advanced aircraft and autonomous expendable systems.<\/p>\n Future combat architecture<\/p>\n Electronic warfare has become increasingly important as modern air defense networks grow more sophisticated. Detecting hostile radar emissions early can improve mission planning and reduce risks for strike aircraft operating in contested environments.<\/p>\n Harmattan AI Co-Founder and CEO Mouad M\u2019Ghari said NAMIB proves that advanced electronic warfare functions can now fit on lightweight autonomous platforms operating close to hostile systems. He said the collaboration combines Dassault\u2019s experience in combat aircraft<\/a> with Harmattan AI\u2019s expertise in autonomous technologies and embedded intelligence.<\/p>\n