Delivering Mission-Critical AI from Sense to Effect

Europe
United Kingdom

Type Insight
Published 23 July 2025

For over a century, Thales in the UK has been driving the creation of some of the UK’s most advanced and innovative technologies. For the last decade, this has meant carefully integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into existing systems and exploring the possibilities for AI as we face the challenges of the future.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AI USE CASES AT THALES AROUND THE WORLD

Download this collection of over twenty real-life AI applications across civil and military domains.

Thales AI in Real Use
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- 17 Sept 2025
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At the core of Thales's AI innovation is CortAIx, our global AI accelerator that advances mission-critical AI capabilities from sense to effect

The CortAIx centre in the UK brings together cutting-edge technology, skilled talent, and advanced research. Thales leverages its deep expertise in defence and security to create AI solutions specifically designed to meet the UK’s operational needs - from the core to the edge.

We are committed to delivering trusted outcomes and developing AI responsibly by prioritising transparency and human-centric design to ensure our systems enhance, rather than replace, human decision-making.

CortAIx in the UK will focus on:

AI solutions that are deployed ethically, securely, and transparently.
Improved performance of the most advanced systems.
Enhanced decision-making for human operators, even under the most challenging and constrained circumstances.

cortAIx enables rapid innovation, overcoming legacy platform constraints in size, weight, power, bandwidth, and data. Our trusted AI algorithms enhance sensor performance, accelerate decision cycles, and deliver multi-platform, networked effects while ensuring human factors are a core principle to every deployment for operational safety and reliability.

Today, autonomous mine countermeasure (MCM) systems offer greater efficiency and operational tempo at lower cost, whilst removing crew from the dangers of the minefield. Thales’ Pathmaster, part of the joint Anglo-French MMCM programme, provides leading-edge capability and operational advantage to MCM operations. Pathmaster utilises AI in two key areas – Mine Detection and Classification and Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) operation.

We believe that technology should always be designed with the human experience in mind. Leveraging our expertise in Human Factors, we take into account both physical and mental capabilities—especially in high-stress situations. We then develop AI-powered systems that augment, accelerate, and enhance decision-making, from the edge to the cloud.

DigitalCrew® harnesses advanced AI and machine learning to reduce cognitive burden and provide enhanced situational awareness for soldiers operating armoured vehicles. By integrating seamlessly with cutting-edge sensors like PAAG (Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal), DigitalCrew® acts as an always-alert teammate—sensing, processing, and analysing multiple data streams to alert operators to evolving threats and critical cues.

Its domain-agnostic algorithms classify, prioritise, and present vital information in real time, empowering soldiers to make faster, better decisions, even in highly complex environments. DigitalCrew® – in combination with PAAG – is an example of Thales successfully deploying AI at the edge.

What’s next for AI?

At Thales, we are shaping the future of mission-critical AI by delivering intelligent solutions that seamlessly connect sensing, data processing, and actionable outcomes. Our vision is to harness AI across every stage—from gathering and interpreting complex data in real time, to supporting rapid, informed decision-making, and enabling decisive action with confidence.

By integrating trusted, human-centric AI at every level, we ensure our technologies bolster operational effectiveness and mission success in even the most demanding environments.