Interview : cortAIx, une équipe de France pour l’IA de défense
Naval Group has invested in cortAIx France, Thales’ AI accelerator for critical systems, to strengthen France’s defense AI capabilities. The collaboration aims to integrate AI into naval operations, including collaborative combat and drone autonomy.
In early 2026, Naval Group acquired a stake in cortAIx France, Thales’ AI accelerator focused on critical systems, and integrated its experts into the team. The move aligns with France’s push for technological sovereignty in defense, particularly in AI-driven naval applications. cortAIx, launched in 2024, consolidates Thales’ AI expertise to accelerate industrialization and integration into high-stakes solutions.
Since March 2026, around 15 Naval Group employees, including system architects and UX engineers, have joined cortAIx’s teams. Initially split between Naval Group’s site in Ollioules and Thales’ Île-de-France offices, they now work full-time in Ollioules within Naval Group’s new digital excellence center. Their role involves applying naval system knowledge to AI solutions, complementing Thales’ data scientists and MLOps engineers.
The collaboration targets AI systems capable of processing large data volumes to generate predictions and support decision-making for naval operations. Key use cases include collaborative combat for coordinated aero-naval operations, drone autonomy, logistical support, and integrated tactical situation modules for command centers. Proximity combat is also a focus area for future development.
The partnership follows an agile methodology, with sprints of three weeks to develop use cases ranging from exploration to industrialized solutions in three to nine months. cortAIx leverages Thales’ existing AI frameworks and collaborations with entities like Mistral AI and the Ministry of Defense’s AI agency (AMIAD). The goal is to deliver operational superiority for the French Navy while advancing national technological sovereignty.