France to fly loyal wingman drones with fighters by 2028 in sovereign AI push

The French Air Force announced plans to demonstrate crewed fighter jets operating alongside AI-powered combat drones in 2028 under project Hypairion. This marks a concrete timeline for integrating autonomous systems into French combat aviation, emphasizing sovereign AI capabilities. The move signals a shift in European defense posture toward manned-unmanned teaming, with implications for future procurement and operational concepts.