French Air Force plans first loyal wingman flight in 2028 under project Hypairion
The French Air Force intends to fly crewed fighter jets in collaboration with AI-powered combat drones in 2028 under project Hypairion, part of a sovereign artificial intelligence push. The programme aims to integrate autonomous systems into air operations without reliance on U.S. or other foreign AI architectures. No timeline or budget for operational capability was disclosed.
Why it matters: France is staking a claim to sovereign military AI two years ahead of most European programmes — a schedule that invites skepticism but, if met, would give Paris leverage in setting alliance autonomy standards.