Airbus to onboard Artificial Intelligence in French armed forces’ information systems

Paris, France, 10 December 2025 – The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has granted a framework contract valued at up to €50 million to Airbus Defence and Space. This contract focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence components into the weapons, information, communication, and cybersecurity systems utilized by the French armed forces.

This agreement encompasses information systems delivered by both Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters. Under this contract, Airbus will collaborate with DGA and the Ministerial Agency for Defence AI (AMIAD), established in May 2024. This initiative aims to enable France to master AI technologies and lessen its reliance on foreign powers, aligning with the national strategy on artificial intelligence for defense, which addresses sovereignty challenges and promotes AI utilization in military operations.

The initial phase of the contract will enhance the capabilities of Spationav, the French maritime surveillance system. The integration of AI will facilitate the automated merging of surveillance data derived from satellite systems and Spationav.

Several additional applications are currently being explored or considered, particularly in areas such as intelligence, cybersecurity, and connectivity. These include real-time assistance in managing and optimizing military telecommunications networks.

In an era marked by an influx of sensors—including satellites, radars, drones, smartphones, and social networks—that generate vast amounts of data, the necessity of AI for rapid and efficient data processing becomes even more pronounced. The objective is to alleviate personnel from routine tasks while also enabling the completion of duties that exceed human capabilities due to urgent circumstances or overwhelming data volumes. Additionally, a significant challenge linked to AI involves the ability to store, archive, and structure the copious amounts of data it utilizes, necessitating the development of suitable infrastructure.

@AirbusDefence

Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2025-12-10)