France's DGA Orders 5,000 Additional Sonora Drones from Harmattan AI in Fivefold Contract Expansion

France's DGA Orders 5,000 Additional Sonora Drones from Harmattan AI in Fivefold Contract Expansion

French defense startup Harmattan AI announced on June 23, 2026, that it has secured a new formal procurement contract from France's Ministry of Armed Forces. The Directorate General of Armaments (Direction générale de l'armement, DGA) has expanded its order for the Sonora drone fivefold, adding 5,000 units to the program.

From 1,000 to 5,000: Rapid Scale-Up

The new contract builds on the first formal procurement agreement signed between the two parties in June 2025. Under that initial contract, Harmattan AI delivered 1,000 Sonora units within six months; the DGA formally confirmed acceptance on January 30, 2026. The additional order will support French armed forces in future autonomous drone combat missions.

Battlefield Validation at Exercise Orion 2026

The expanded procurement is closely tied to the Sonora's performance during Exercise Orion 2026, described as the largest French military exercise since the Cold War. Running from February 8 to April 30, 2026, the exercise provided the Sonora with its first operational deployment evaluation.

Sonora Drone Specifications

The Sonora is a quadrotor micro-drone with the following key specifications:

• Weight: Approximately 1.8 kg
• Operational Radius: Over 2 km
• Endurance: Approximately 40 minutes
• Deployment Time: Airborne in under 1 minute
• Sensors: Electro-optical (EO) camera, with an optional infrared sensor from French electro-optics manufacturer Lynred
• Autonomous Capability: Onboard processor enables independent target identification and tracking without GPS or network connectivity
• Unit Price: Under €1,000

Harmattan AI positions the Sonora as a short-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system. The DGA's primary objective in procuring the drone is to familiarize soldiers with operating alongside — and against — drones on the battlefield.

CEO and co-founder Mouad M'Ghari stated that passing the DGA's rigorous standards with "a system that went from initial concept to operational service in just one year" demonstrates Harmattan AI's ability to drive the high-speed mass deployment of autonomous systems.

Large-Scale Production Facility Established Near Paris

To meet growing demand, Harmattan AI has established a 6,000 m² production facility in the Paris region with a monthly capacity of 10,000 units. The company states this makes it the largest manufacturer of autonomous defense systems in Western Europe.

Morocco Partnership: First Customer Outside NATO and Ukraine

On June 17, 2026, during the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, Harmattan AI announced a strategic partnership agreement with Morocco's Royal Armed Forces, with plans to establish a local autonomous systems production line and an AI research center in Morocco. Financial terms, delivery quantities, and timelines were not disclosed. This marks Harmattan AI's first industrial presence outside France and its first publicly announced customer outside NATO member states and Ukraine. Morocco has indicated plans to deploy autonomous air defense systems at scale from 2026 onward.

Unicorn Valuation Reached; Dassault Aviation Leads $200M Series B

Founded in 2024, Harmattan AI has grown rapidly. In January 2026, the company closed a $200 million Series B funding round led by Dassault Aviation, becoming France's first defense unicorn. Dassault Aviation is collaborating with Harmattan AI to integrate controlled autonomous capabilities into the Rafale F5 fighter jet and its accompanying UCAS unmanned combat aircraft.

Beyond the Sonora, Harmattan AI's portfolio includes the Gobi interceptor, designed to neutralize enemy drones. The company has also secured a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence for 3,000 autonomous systems.

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