A Rafale F4 took control of a UAV carrying the Namib EW payload as part of a broader push by France to equip fighter aircraft for SEAD/DEAD missions. (Dassault Harmattan AI)
Dassault and Harmattan Artificial Intelligence (AI) have flown a new electronic warfare (EW) joint unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the Rafale fighter, the companies announced on July 13, 2026.
The test sortie saw an F4-standard Rafale controlling a UAV carrying a Namib EW payload developed by both Dassault and Harmattan AI.
“During the flight, the Namib carefully detected the radar tens of kilometers away and precisely determined its geolocation. The target’s location was transmitted to the Rafale, which simulated an attack on the target,” the two companies supported in a joint statement.
As stated in the announcement, Namib is capable of detecting, identifying and locating electromagnetic radiation, especially radiation from air defense systems. This can be carried by tactical UAVs, including quadcopters, as well as more durable fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The development of Namib, which began in January 2026, is one of the key initiatives under the strategic partnership between Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI, which aims to integrate advanced autonomous capabilities into next-generation air combat systems,” the statement said.
For more information, see France confirms Stratus RS to be Rafale’s future SEAD weapon
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