Thales Shows Off AI-Enabled Drone Swarm

French defence giant Thales says it has made a great leap forward in Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) technology after demonstrating its new AI-controlled swarming capability.

As per a recent press statement the firm performed tests flights where it deployed swarms of drones with different levels of autonomy. It said its innovative AI-based “Cohesion” system architecture enabled “supervised autonomy” that reduced cognitive load on operators, yet ensured they stayed in control at all times.

It claimed: “This new possibility offers an unprecedented level of flexibility in contested environments, where electronic warfare measures can saturate communication systems and jam datalinks that rely on GNSS signals.”

The firm said permanently open communication links with the AI-enabled drones was not necessary and there was no need for a one-to-one ratio of drones and operators.

The press statement noted: “The drones are capable of perceiving and analysing their local environment, sharing target information, analysing enemy intent and prioritising missions. They can also utilise collaborative tactics and optimise their trajectories to increase resilience and boost force effectiveness.”

Thales’ executive vice president of land and air systems Hervé Dammann commented:“We are proud to be developing innovative solutions aligned with strong ethical values. Our solutions are demonstrable, applicable, incremental and deployable, acting as a force multiplier without increasing the cognitive burden on operators, yet guaranteeing that they retain their central role in the decision-making process.”

• You can read more details on the Thales website