Thales Released AI Command System HexaForce
The platform uses agentic AI to manage mission planning for large-scale operations across NATO forces.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Should nations allow AI systems to provide targeting options for military combat missions?
Thales has officially released HexaForce, a command-and-control system for military units ranging from battalions to army corps. The software, which incorporates agentic AI to assist in targeting mission preparation, was tested during NATO's Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise in June 2026.
Why it matters
The system is designed to handle the complexity of operations involving over 100,000 troops, addressing the need to process vast amounts of battlefield data. It aims to scale mission planning to 1,000 targets per day, representing a tenfold increase in current capabilities.
HexaForce was developed in nine months and supports a distributed mesh architecture that allows operations to be spread across multiple command post data hubs. It integrates with legacy and national systems using NATO data-centric security and federation networking standards.
The players
Thales
A French multinational corporation specializing in aerospace, defense, and digital identity, known for its expertise in mission-critical information systems.
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a political and military alliance currently standardizing interoperability across its member nations' armed forces.
The details
The platform uses agentic AI — software agents capable of autonomously performing complex multi-step tasks — to assist commanders in preparing targeting missions. While the system automates data processing, it does not perform final actions or weapon deployment, requiring human operators for all mission authorizations. It functions as an open architecture, meaning it is designed to interface easily with various third-party hardware and existing military software infrastructures.
Timeline
June 2026: HexaForce was tested at the NATO CWIX exercise in Poland.
September 18, 2026: Thales announced the commercial availability of the system.
September 24, 2026: Patrick Moreau discussed the status of ongoing NATO negotiations.
The Tech Race
HexaForce competes in a growing market for military-grade AI systems designed to achieve battlefield interoperability. It serves as a potential foundational component for the French military's sovereign Arcadia system, aligning with broader goals for national and alliance-level technological autonomy.
HexaForce is currently available to military organizations, with Thales holding advanced negotiations regarding its adoption by various NATO nations. The system requires no manual hardware installation changes as it is built to integrate with existing legacy infrastructure.
The takeaway
The rapid nine-month development cycle of HexaForce highlights a significant push toward faster deployment of AI-driven decision support in defense. Watch for future contract announcements from NATO member states, which will confirm the system's role in the next generation of coalition command architecture.
Further reading
For more on the current state of defense-focused automation, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Live Poll
Should nations allow AI systems to provide targeting options for military combat missions?
