Thales Conducts First Demo of Drone Swarms with Varying Autonomy Levels

Thales conducted the first-ever flight tests of its COHESION drone swarm demonstrator on October 16, showcasing varying levels of autonomy.

Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and intelligent agents, the drones demonstrated autonomous capabilities designed to reduce operator workload while maintaining human control during critical mission phases.

While drones are crucial on the battlefield, their effectiveness is limited by the need for one operator per drone and a constant, secure datalink. Thales's flight tests showcased advancements addressing these limitations, enhancing drone swarm capabilities for military missions.

The system architecture of the COHESION demonstrator allows operators to adjust the autonomy level of drone swarms based on mission requirements. This flexibility is critical in contested environments, where electronic warfare can disrupt communication systems and jam datalinks reliant on GNSS signals.

Autonomous drones, whether individually or in swarms, eliminate the need for a continuous datalink to the control station. These drones can perceive and analyze their environment, share target data, assess enemy intent, and prioritize missions. They also employ collaborative tactics and optimize flight paths to increase resilience and boost effectiveness.

This approach increases operational capacity without adding to the operators' cognitive load, allowing them to continue making key decisions. The use of cybersecure, human-in-the-loop AI maintains human oversight, in line with Thales's TrUE AI principles.

Previously, in June 2023, Thales introduced OpenDRobotics, an AI-based system that integrates robotics and unmanned air and ground assets into human-in-the-loop mission systems. Thales’s Spy'Ranger 330 drone was selected for the French Army's SMDR program. In 2024, the company expanded its drone offerings with the acquisition of Aeromapper, adding the TOUTATIS loitering munition. Additionally, Thales launched cortAIx in March 2024 to accelerate AI development for military systems, focusing on cybersecurity, embeddability, and efficiency.