Shield AI

• V-BAT
• X-BAT

Output & shipments

• Deliveries

  2025-03-28 - Shield AI delivered its first ViDAR payloads to NAVAIR PMA-263 for U.S. Marine Corps operations. - named defense customer delivery - U.S. Marine Corps operations

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Orders & commitments

• Order / commitment

  2026-06-17 - Shield AI received a U.S. Air Force production contract for Hivemind mission autonomy on Collaborative Combat Aircraft. - Hivemind mission autonomy for CCA - Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

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• Order / commitment

  2026-05-19 - Shield AI was selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy software onto the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System program. - program integration

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• Order / commitment

  2026-01-28 - Shield AI was selected to supply V-BAT aircraft together with Hivemind autonomy software to the Indian Army. - V-BAT / Hivemind

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• Order / commitment

  2025-07-08 - The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected Shield AI V-BAT to equip its Navy and Marine Corps. - Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps UAS program

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• Order / commitment

  2025-01-22 - Shield AI V-BAT was selected as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force first maritime ISR platform. - maritime ISR platform selection

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• Order / commitment

  2024-07-01 - Shield AI said V-BAT was selected for a $198 million U.S. Coast Guard maritime unmanned aircraft system services contract. - U.S. Coast Guard maritime UAS services

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• Operating use

  2026-06-29 - Shield AI reports more than 13,000 V-BAT missions across multiple deployments. - V-BAT global operations

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• Operating use

  2025-10-21 - Shield AI's V-BAT supported ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025. - named military exercise - UNITAS 2025

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• Operating use

  2025-08-06 - Shield AI completed V-BAT missions supporting Frontex border and emergency operations in eastern Europe. - named agency operations - eastern Europe

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• Operating use

  2025-04-17 - Shield AI reported more than 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces. - Ukraine operational sorties - Ukraine operations

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• Hivemind mission-autonomy software with Fury

  Physical Demo - Controlled By - Anduril YFQ-44A Fury flew with Shield AI Hivemind in CCA risk-reduction testing over the Mojave Desert.

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Supply chain relationships

• GE Aerospace

  Inbound - Subsystems - GE Aerospace supplies engine and thrust-vectoring-nozzle integration for X-BAT autonomous aircraft prototype

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• Foxglove

  Inbound - Software - Foxglove visualization software is embedded in Hivemind Forge and shipped with Hivemind deployments

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• Hood Tech

  Inbound - robotics sensors - Shield AI lists Hood Tech 6, 9 and 11 Series imaging payloads for V-BAT

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• NVIDIA

  Inbound - Compute & Control - Shield AI V-BAT Teams uses a modular NVIDIA GPU upgrade to run Hivemind

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• RTX Corporation

  Outbound - Software - Shield AI supplies Hivemind autonomy and ViDAR sensor software for RTX defence systems

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• Kraken Technology Group

  Outbound - Software - Shield AI supplies Hivemind mission-autonomy software for Kraken K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel

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• National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology

  Outbound - Compute & Control - Shield AI supplies the Hivemind platform and integration support for NCSIST intelligent unmanned systems under an expanded contract

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• UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía

  Outbound - Compute & Control - Shield AI supplies hivemind autonomy software for uav navigation systems for UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía UAV Navigation unmanned systems

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• United States Air Force

  Outbound - Autonomy Software - Shield AI supplies Hivemind mission autonomy under a U.S. Air Force CCA production contract

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• 2026-06-22 - Series G - $1.5B - Shield AI closes $2B strategic financing package at $12.7B valuation

  valuation: $12.7B - Shield AI closed a $2 billion strategic financing package comprising $1.5 billion of Series G funding and $500 million of preferred equity financing at a $12.7 billion post-money valuation. - source: shield.ai

• 2025-03-06 - F-1 strategic round - $240M - Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B valuation

  valuation: $5.3B - source: shield.ai

• Disruptive - Participant - Unknown - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-03-06 - latest 2026-06-22
• Riot Ventures - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-03-06 - latest 2026-06-22
• Snowpoint Ventures - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-03-06 - latest 2026-06-22
• Advent International - Lead - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-06-22
• Andreessen Horowitz - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• Apandion - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-06-22
• ARK Invest - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• Booz Allen Ventures - Participant - Corporate / CVC - 1 funding event - strategic/corporate - first seen 2025-03-06
• Hanwha Asset Management - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• InnovationX - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-06-22
• JPMorganChase Strategic Investment Group - Lead - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-06-22
• L3Harris - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• U.S. Innovative Technology - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• Washington Harbour - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
• Washington Harbour Partners - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06

• Ryan Tseng - Co-Founder and President - His current role keeps him tied to senior defence and aerospace engagement while separating founder context from the CEO role now held by Gary Steele.

Events

• 2026-10-08 - Demonstration - Honeywell demonstrates two-aircraft ISR teaming with Shield AI

  A scout used onboard cameras and Honeywell’s detection/tracking model to find a target; the second aircraft navigated to it, delivered a payload and returned to base. Both aircraft used Honeywell o480 inertial navigation systems and exchanged target information through Hivemind. The mission followed a July 8 single-aircraft demonstration; Honeywell developed and tested the teaming mission over the next three months.

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• 2026-10-09 - Partnership - PDW integrates Booz Allen mission-autonomy software on AM drones

  The combined AM hardware and software entered controlled testing on September 30; general availability is planned for Q1 2027. Operators retain mission decision-making authority, including authorization of effects delivery. PDW and Booz Allen plan additional autonomy options and extension of the software to C100 in 2027.

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• 2026-10-08 - Contract Award - Shield AI receives $150 million Navy modification for X-BAT

  The modification supports Defense Exportability Features through the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. A separate August action and matching company commitment bring announced public and private X-BAT commitments to $400 million. Flight testing is scheduled for later in 2026; engine light-off and thrust-vectoring nozzle integration have been completed.

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• 2026-10-08 - Partnership - Shield AI and GEK TERNA sign MoU for Greek X-BAT industrial base

  Shield AI would lead the aircraft programme and provide autonomy software and mission systems; GEK TERNA would coordinate local suppliers and a Greek programme office. The proposed hub would support training, logistics and maintenance for Greece, Cyprus, the Balkans and southeastern Europe. Workshare, facilities and detailed roles remain under negotiation in definitive agreements.

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• 2026-10-06 - Partnership - Shield AI and Innovaero sign Hivemind autonomy MoU for OWL munitions

  Hivemind is already integrated onto OWL-B ahead of flight testing. The teams are simulating coordinated multi-aircraft strike missions in dynamic conditions, with commands through the ATAK tactical interface. The collaboration targets mission planning and autonomous operation when GPS or communications are degraded.

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• 2026-09-28 - Demonstration - Kraken and Shield AI demonstrate Hivemind teaming on two K3 Scouts

  Onboard radar, cameras and AIS data supported cooperative search, detection and classification. The two vessels tracked and escorted a contact before replanning and resuming their search.

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• 2026-08-24 - Demonstration - Shield AI, Sedaro and NOVI demonstrate Hivemind in orbit

  Hivemind generated 189 commands that passed NOVI’s SAFE validation over a 24-hour test window. The hybrid experiment used Sedaro simulation infrastructure to connect the live spacecraft with five virtual peers. This is a validated on-orbit autonomy demonstration, not evidence that Hivemind now operates an autonomous commercial constellation.

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• 2026-08-06 - Contract Award - Shield AI expands Taiwan Hivemind contract after three-UAV swarm exercise

  NCSIST engineers developed AI pilots and implemented them on three locally produced Mighty Hornet III aircraft in less than three months with Shield AI support. Hivemind launched the aircraft, assigned separate search sectors, coordinated communications around a partial no-fly zone and landed all three autonomously. The demonstration completed the initial NCSIST contract and expanded the partnership to broader sovereign-AI and autonomy development across the institute.

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• 2026-07-29 - Demonstration - Shield AI and Thunder Tiger complete Hivemind multi-USV autonomy demonstration in Taiwan

  SeaShark 600 and SeaShark 800 used maritime radar, imagery and AIS data to search an area and identify a vessel of interest. Hivemind planned waypoints and coordinated the two vessels to escort the target out of the search zone. The companies are extending their earlier strategic partnership toward larger teams, additional sensors and open-ocean applications.

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• 2026-07-22 - Partnership - Shield AI and Honeywell sign autonomous-aircraft MOU

  The agreement is an exploratory memorandum of understanding. The scope covers potential autonomous-aircraft development work. The collaboration remains at the memorandum-of-understanding stage.

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• 2026-07-20 - Demonstration - Shield AI and GE complete X-BAT engine-integration milestone

  The milestone confirmed engine operation in the integrated X-BAT propulsion configuration. The team also completed integration of the aircraft’s thrust-vectoring nozzle. The release describes preparation for vertical flight; it does not claim that X-BAT had completed that flight test.

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• 2026-07-16 - Demonstration - Green Wolf test combines L3Harris DiSCO with Shield AI Hivemind

  Hivemind commanded the Green Wolf aircraft using threat data supplied by L3Harris DiSCO. The live-range scenario detected, analyzed and responded to electromagnetic threats without human intervention. The test used L3Harris Deceptor payloads across multiple uncrewed aircraft.

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• 2026-06-23 - Contract Award - Poland signs $16 million contract for Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT UAVs

  The contract covers several MQ-35 V-BAT platforms for delivery to the Polish Navy by the end of 2026. Polish authorities say the systems will support maritime ISR and improve protection of critical infrastructure and communication routes. The V-BAT’s vertical takeoff and landing profile supports shipboard operations where runway length is limited.

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• 2026-06-22 - Acquisition - Shield AI completes acquisition of Aechelon Technology

  Shield AI completed its acquisition of Aechelon Technology, adding high-fidelity simulation, physics-based sensor modelling and synthetic reality technology to its Hivemind autonomy stack. Aechelon will continue serving existing customers while collaborating with Shield AI’s Hivemind division. Shield AI said the deal links simulation, autonomy and deployment for manned-unmanned teaming.

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• 2026-06-22 - Funding - Shield AI closes $2B strategic financing package at $12.7B valuation

  The Series G was led by Advent International and co-led by JPMorganChase's Strategic Investment Group. Blackstone-managed funds provided the separate $500 million preferred equity component. The financing closed before Shield AI completed its acquisition of Aechelon Technology and added high-fidelity simulation and sensor-modelling technology to its autonomy platform.

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• 2026-06-18 - Partnership - Shield AI partners with UAV Navigation

  The partnership targeted European customers and lower integration risk for autonomous aircraft. The collaboration paired Shield AI autonomy software with UAV Navigation flight-control systems.

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• 2026-06-17 - Contract Award - Shield AI wins USAF production contract for CCA mission autonomy

  Shield AI received a U.S. Air Force production contract for Hivemind mission autonomy on Collaborative Combat Aircraft, extending prior CCA autonomy work into a production award. Production contract covers Hivemind mission autonomy for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Award follows Shield AI flight-test and autonomy-provider work tied to the CCA program.

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• 2026-06-15 - Demonstration - Full-mission Hornet exercise validates Hivemind counter-UAS autonomy

  Shield AI and Destinus completed a full-mission flight exercise with Hivemind on the Destinus Hornet interceptor. The Segovia, Spain tests validated AI piloting, coordination and in-flight adaptation in a counter-UAS mission profile. The companies framed the mission set around loitering munitions, drone swarms and hostile uncrewed threats.

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• 2026-05-19 - Contract Award - Shield AI selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy on LUCAS combat drone program

  Shield AI secured a Pentagon contract to integrate Hivemind autonomy software onto the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System program. The LUCAS effort is aimed at fielding lower-cost uncrewed combat aircraft and drone-swarm concepts. The selection adds another combat-aircraft integration path for Hivemind beyond Shield AI's existing V-BAT and collaborative-combat-aircraft work.

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• 2026-03-26 - Acquisition - Shield AI to acquire Aechelon and raise $2 billion

  Shield AI announced an agreement to acquire simulation-software company Aechelon Technology. The same announcement included $1.5 billion in Series G funding and $500 million in preferred-equity financing. The transaction was announced at a stated $12.7 billion valuation.

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• 2026-03-24 - Demonstration - Shield AI's Hivemind demonstrates flight on Destinus Hornet in two-month integration

  Shield AI says Hivemind was integrated onto the Destinus Hornet in two months The flight is positioned as a platform-agnostic autonomy integration milestone

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• 2026-03-19 - Demonstration - Northrop Grumman's Talon IQ flies Shield AI's Hivemind software

  Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ completed its first partner mission-autonomy flight using Shield AI Hivemind. Hivemind commanded combat-air-patrol and target-engagement manoeuvres before control switched back to Northrop Grumman Prism. The software reached flight after a single day of hardware-in-the-loop testing.

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• 2026-03-17 - Demonstration - Shield AI and MHI complete autonomous flight tests in Japan

  • Shield AI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) conducted autonomous flight demonstrations in Japan, integrating Shield AI's Hivemind sof... • The development began in September 2025, with flight tests on November 7 in Ibaraki Prefecture and December 18 in Gunma Prefecture. • The entire process, from AI development to UAV installation and flight, was completed in eight weeks.

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• 2026-03-17 - Demonstration - Shield AI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., complete autonomous flight tests in under 60 days

  Shield AI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries completed autonomous flight tests after integrating Hivemind on the ARMD platform in under 60 days. Two aircraft demonstrated reinforcement-learning behaviours and coordinated motion while tracking a virtual vehicle. The programme moved from software-in-the-loop to hardware-in-the-loop testing in under two weeks.

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• 2026-03-03 - Demonstration - Shield AI's V-BAT proves cold weather capabilities in NATO's arena HEIMDALL exercise

  V-BAT completed ship- and land-based vertical take-off and landing missions during NATO HEIMDALL 26 in Norway. Day and night sorties used electro-optical, infrared and synthetic-aperture-radar payloads without aircraft configuration changes. The aircraft fed ISR data into multinational command-and-control systems over multiple frequency bands.

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• 2026-02-26 - Demonstration - Hivemind successfully completes first CCA flight test aboard Anduril's YFQ-44A aircraft

  Hivemind completed its first flight test aboard Anduril’s YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Mojave Desert flight completed all planned integration and mission-autonomy test points. Test points included mid-mission updates and initial operational behaviours.

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• 2026-02-19 - Demonstration - Shield AI demonstrates AI-enabled autonomy for future Collaborative Combat Aircraft

  Hivemind autonomously flew two Navy BQM-177A aircraft during a December test at Point Mugu Sea Range. The aircraft defended Combat Air Patrol positions in a live-virtual-constructive scenario with a virtual F-18 and constructive adversaries. The capstone followed a multi-month integration campaign and advanced compatibility with the Navy's Autonomy Government Reference Architecture.

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• 2026-02-13 - Award - Shield AI selected as mission autonomy provider for the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

  The U.S. Air Force selected Shield AI to provide the mission-autonomy layer for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The work centers on Hivemind, Shield AI's autonomy software, rather than the sale of a Shield AI aircraft. The award puts Shield AI inside one of the highest-profile U.S. military autonomy programs.

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• 2026-02-11 - Partnership - Shield AI signs contract with Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to accelerate and indigenize Taiwan-developed AI pilots

  Shield AI signed a contract with Taiwan’s NCSIST to develop, demonstrate and deploy AI-piloted unmanned systems. NCSIST will integrate Hivemind into locally developed platforms for autonomous missions and coordinated multi-system teaming. The agreement covers both Hivemind SDK use and turnkey integrations for NCSIST unmanned systems.

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• 2026-02-05 - Partnership - Shield AI, RSAF, and DSTA expand partnership

  Shield AI expanded its work with the Republic of Singapore Air Force and Singapore's DSTA to field autonomy capabilities over time. The partnership is centered on autonomy deployment and integration, with Hivemind as the relevant product layer. The partnership extends Shield AI's role from product vendor to embedded autonomy partner inside allied defence programs.

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• 2026-02-04 - Partnership - Shield AI and ST Engineering sign MoU to boost next-generation autonomous defense capabilities

  Shield AI and ST Engineering signed an MoU at the Singapore Airshow covering next-generation autonomous systems. Selected ST Engineering platforms will be evaluated for Hivemind integration. The work includes demonstrations, system integration and assessment of the Hivemind SDK for sovereign mission-autonomy development.

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• 2026-01-28 - Contract Award - Shield AI selected to provide V-BAT and Hivemind to the Indian Army

  The Indian Army selected Shield AI to supply V-BAT aircraft together with Hivemind autonomy software. This is a combined platform-and-software deal, not just an aircraft order. The award shows Shield AI selling both the vehicle layer and the autonomy layer into a major defence customer.

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• 2026-01-22 - Partnership - LIG Nex1 and Shield AI hold contract commemoration event at UMEX 2026

  The event reflects a defense partnership / program relationship Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations.

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• 2025-12-18 - Demonstration - Shield AI and MHI complete Hivemind Enterprise flight demonstrations in Japan

  MHI used Hivemind Enterprise for AI development, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing and UAV integration. Flight demonstrations occurred on 7 November and 18 December 2025 in Japan. MHI said the programme moved from AI development through UAV installation and flight in eight weeks.

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• 2025-12-03 - Partnership - Shield AI expands into space domain through partnership with Sedaro

  Shield AI and Sedaro formed a strategic partnership for autonomous orbital operations. Hivemind Pilot became Sedaro’s preferred autonomy software for on-orbit demonstrations. Shield AI will use Sedaro’s simulation platform to develop, test and validate orbital autonomy behaviours.

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• 2025-11-19 - Partnership - Shield AI and Destinus partner on Hivemind integration for European defense

  Shield AI and Destinus announced a partnership in November 2025. The companies planned to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy across Destinus platforms. The partnership was framed around support for Ukraine and broader European defense needs.

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• 2025-11-05 - Partnership - Shield AI and GE Aerospace collaborate on X-BAT propulsion

  The work connects GE Aerospace propulsion engineering with Shield AI’s autonomous VTOL aircraft programme. The agreement follows Shield AI’s October 2025 public unveiling of X-BAT. The partners framed propulsion integration as a programme-development step, not a completed flight demonstration.

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• 2025-11-03 - Demonstration - Shield AI and HII successfully combine proven autonomy in USV operations

  Shield AI and HII integrated Hivemind mission autonomy into an HII unmanned surface-vessel operation. The test exercised autonomous navigation and mission execution on a partner maritime platform.

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• 2025-10-22 - Product Launch - Shield AI unveils X-BAT autonomous VTOL aircraft

  The aircraft is designed around Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software rather than a conventional onboard pilot. Its VTOL configuration is intended to reduce dependence on runways and fixed launch infrastructure. Shield AI positioned X-BAT above V-BAT in size and mission scope within its autonomous-aircraft portfolio.

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• 2025-10-21 - Deployment - V-BAT supports ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025

  V-BAT deployed from USS Cooperstown during UNITAS 2025 and provided ISR across maritime training scenarios. The aircraft passed full-motion video and ViDAR wide-area-search data into the Navy Minotaur Family of Services common operating picture. The deployment supported the MARLINS task order for U.S. Southern Command and involved 25 allied and partner nations.

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• 2025-10-13 - Partnership - Shield AI and Parry Labs announce strategic collaboration to deliver integrated autonomy at the edge

  Shield AI and Parry Labs signed an MoU to integrate mission autonomy with edge computing. The planned solution combines Hivemind with Parry Labs STRATIA software, digital-engineering tools and edge hardware. The integration targets resilient, interoperable operations in contested and communications-denied environments.

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• 2025-09-23 - Demonstration - Shield AI and Airbus complete autonomous DT25 flight test

  The teams completed the Hivemind integration in three months before flying at Andoya, Norway. The DT25 autonomously tracked a live adversary aircraft in both permissive and degraded operating environments. The flight exercised a counter-UAS mission profile and forms part of wider Shield AI-Airbus work across U.S. and European platforms.

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• 2025-09-22 - Demonstration - Shield AI demonstrates Hivemind on BQM-177A, supporting Navy manned-unmanned teaming goals

  Shield AI demonstrates Hivemind on the BQM-177A The event supports Navy manned-unmanned teaming goals Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations.

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• 2025-09-22 - Demonstration - L3Harris and Shield AI demonstrate AI-powered system to defeat unmanned threats

  L3Harris and Shield AI demonstrated an AI-powered system for detecting and defeating unmanned threats. The exercise combined L3Harris sensing and effectors with Shield AI mission autonomy.

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• 2025-09-11 - Partnership - AIDC and Shield AI sign unmanned-systems teaming agreement

  The agreement defines collaboration on sustainment, training, autonomy integration and other technical initiatives in Taiwan. Shield AI contributes mission-autonomy software and aircraft while AIDC contributes aerospace manufacturing and local support capabilities. The companies aim to support deployment and scaling of Shield AI products and strengthen Taiwan's local drone and aerospace industry.

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• 2025-09-10 - Partnership - Shield AI and HII partner to accelerate modular cross-domain mission autonomy solutions

  Shield AI and HII formed a partnership focused on modular cross-domain mission-autonomy solutions. The collaboration combines Hivemind autonomy with HII platforms and systems-integration capabilities. The companies intend to support autonomy deployment across multiple defence domains rather than a single aircraft.

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• 2025-08-19 - Demonstration - Airbus and Shield AI complete first autonomous Aerial Logistics Connector flight

  The Grand Prairie test used an H145 helicopter, with Hivemind integration completed in under two months. Hivemind and Airbus Helionix performed automatic takeoff, landing and other test points without pilot input. The tested software is intended for the future MQ-72C design supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector programme.

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• 2025-08-06 - Deployment - Shield AI completes successful V-BAT deployment supporting border and emergency operations with Frontex in eastern Europe

  V-BAT operated for Frontex from early June 2025 across thousands of miles of European land and maritime borders. The aircraft supported surveillance, border security and emergency response, including a July wildfire mission in eastern Bulgaria. During the fire response, V-BAT detected the blaze from 30 kilometres away and supplied real-time fire, hotspot and personnel-location data.

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• 2025-07-31 - Demonstration - Shield AI's new V-BAT passes operational evaluation with U.S. Coast Guard

  Shield AI says the new V-BAT passed operational evaluation with the U.S. Coast Guard This is a capability / validation milestone ahead of broader deployment

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• 2025-07-08 - Contract Award - Netherlands Ministry of Defence selects V-BAT

  The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected V-BAT to support the country's Navy and Marine Corps. The award is a clear international procurement win for V-BAT with named defence operators.

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• 2025-07-01 - Partnership - RTX and Shield AI partner on autonomous defense systems

  RTX plans to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy platform into selected defense products, including loitering munitions and sensors, for U.S. and allied defense forces. The companies said the work would target an operational weapon powered by Networked Collaborative Autonomy, with the collaboration fully funded by RTX and Shield AI rather than by government investment. Shield AI also plans to integrate ViDAR software with RTX’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System to support automated sensor autonomy against maritime and airborne swarm targets.

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• 2025-07-01 - Partnership - RTX and Shield AI partner to develop new defense capabilities

  RTX and Shield AI formed a partnership to develop new defence capabilities. The collaboration combines RTX platform and systems expertise with Shield AI Hivemind autonomy. The work targets autonomous capabilities for future defence programmes.

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• 2025-06-25 - Partnership - Shield AI announces new solution integration with AWS to scale mission autonomy across autonomous fleets

  The integration pairs Shield AI’s Hivemind Enterprise autonomy stack with AWS IoT infrastructure. AWS IoT Core and Amazon Elastic Container Registry provide centralized control and secure software deployment to distributed fielded systems. Shield AI said initial deployments focus on defence, while the underlying fleet-update architecture is industry-agnostic.

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• 2025-06-17 - Demonstration - Shield AI advances Hivemind with second MQ-20 Avenger flight

  Hivemind coordinated one live MQ-20 with its digital twin in a blended physical and virtual mission scenario. The aircraft executed formation flying and combat-air-patrol manoeuvres using A-GRA-compliant mission-planning layers. The test advanced beyond February's command-line-interface work by adding tactical skills and real-time links to command-and-control and edge systems.

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• 2025-04-30 - Partnership - Airbus U.S. Space and Defense and Shield AI partner to integrate autonomy on unmanned Aerial Logistics Connector

  Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Shield AI partnered to integrate Hivemind on the unmanned Aerial Logistics Connector. The integration brings mission autonomy to a partner cargo-aircraft platform. The programme targets autonomous logistics operations in contested environments.

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• 2025-04-17 - Deployment - Shield AI surpasses 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces

  V-BAT completed more than 130 sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces. The sorties provide a quantified operational-use marker for the Group 3 vertical-takeoff unmanned aircraft.

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• 2025-04-15 - Acquisition - Shield AI acquires Crowdbotics Data Driven Readiness software tools

  The acquisition expanded Shield AI's software stack for AI-enabled defence systems. Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations.

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• 2025-04-07 - Product Launch - Shield AI unveils V-BAT block upgrade powered by Hivemind

  Shield AI announced a major V-BAT upgrade that added a new autonomy package alongside other system improvements. The release ties the upgraded aircraft directly to Hivemind, plus new SATCOM and heavy-fuel features. The update shows the company improving its existing aircraft platform rather than relying only on new-product headlines.

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• 2025-04-03 - Product Launch - Shield AI launches ViDAR Pod passive wide-area surveillance payload

  Shield AI launched ViDAR Pod as a passive wide-area surveillance product for multi-domain sensing missions. The product extends the company's stack beyond aircraft and autonomy software into the ISR payload layer. ViDAR Pod gives Shield AI another product line for defence surveillance and targeting workflows.

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• 2025-04-01 - Demonstration - Shield AI's V-BAT successfully demonstrates resilience to electronic warfare at Project Convergence Capstone 5

  Shield AI says V-BAT demonstrated resilience to electronic warfare at Project Convergence Capstone 5 This is a capability-validation event

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• 2025-03-28 - Production Milestone - Shield AI delivers first ViDAR payloads to NAVAIR PMA-263

  Shield AI delivered its first ViDAR payloads to NAVAIR PMA-263 for use in U.S. Marine Corps operations. This is a real customer delivery milestone for the ViDAR line, not just a launch or demo announcement. The milestone shows the surveillance payload moving from product story into actual military use.

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• 2025-03-20 - Partnership - Shield AI partners with Korea Aerospace Industries

  Shield AI partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to advance autonomy work around Hivemind Enterprise. The relationship is about integrating Shield AI's autonomy layer into a major aerospace partner context, not selling a V-BAT aircraft. The partnership broadens Hivemind's reach through a large regional defence aerospace player.

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• 2025-03-19 - Partnership - Shield AI partners with RSAF and DSTA on Hivemind Enterprise

  Shield AI announced a partnership with the Republic of Singapore Air Force and DSTA focused on Hivemind Enterprise. The work is about autonomy enablement and integration inside defence programs, rather than a direct aircraft sale. The partnership adds another allied defence customer path for Hivemind outside the U.S.

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• 2025-03-18 - Partnership - Booz Allen and Shield AI partnership brings new autonomous airborne solutions to U.S. military

  Booz Allen and Shield AI announce a partnership Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations.

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• 2025-03-06 - Funding - Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B valuation

  Shield AI raised $240 million at a $5.3 billion valuation to support its next phase of growth. The company explicitly tied the raise to scaling Hivemind Enterprise, its autonomy developer platform. The financing was framed around software-platform expansion, not just aircraft manufacturing.

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• 2025-03-04 - Demonstration - Shield AI Hivemind flies General Atomics MQ-20 at Orange Flag

  The February Orange Flag exercise used A-GRA-compliant interfaces to connect Hivemind with the MQ-20's open architecture. The flight began a planned series of 2025 tests intended to expand the integration toward full A-GRA compliance. General Atomics uses the jet-powered MQ-20 as a test bed for future Autonomous Collaborative Platforms.

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• 2025-02-26 - Partnership - Shield AI and L3Harris team for breakthrough in autonomy

  Shield AI and L3Harris announced a teaming arrangement focused on autonomous defence systems. The companies plan to combine Hivemind mission autonomy with L3Harris platform and integration capabilities. The teaming work is platform-oriented and is not limited to a single Shield AI aircraft.

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• 2025-01-22 - Contract Award - V-BAT selected by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force selected Shield AI's V-BAT as its first maritime ISR platform. The selection placed V-BAT in a named naval operator setting rather than a generic defense demonstration. The award expanded V-BAT's Asia-Pacific defense customer base for shipborne and expeditionary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

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• 2025-01-16 - Partnership - Shield AI starts training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, establishes local presence in Ukraine

  Shield AI starts training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces The release also says the company is establishing local presence in Ukraine

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• 2024-12-05 - Partnership - Shield AI and Palantir Technologies deepen strategic partnership and announce deployment of Warp Speed

  Shield AI and Palantir deepen a strategic partnership The release also announces deployment of Warp Speed Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations.

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• 2024-11-12 - Partnership - JSW Defence and Shield AI forge strategic partnership to bring cutting-edge military aircraft technology to India

  JSW Defence and Shield AI formed a strategic partnership to bring military aircraft technology to India. The arrangement covers local capability development around Shield AI autonomous aircraft technology. The partnership supports production, deployment and sustainment activity in the Indian defence market.

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• 2024-08-28 - Partnership - Navy partners with Shield AI to enhance autonomy in Naval aviation

  The Navy's PMA-281 and PMA-208 programmes selected Shield AI under an Other Transaction Authority agreement. Shield AI will integrate Hivemind AI pilot software into the BQM-177A aerial target as a prototype test bed. The programme links simulation and live testing, with a technical demonstration planned for late 2025.

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• 2024-08-21 - Demonstration - Shield AI achieves groundbreaking collaborative multi-jet aircraft autonomy in Kratos MQM-178 Firejet flight test event

  Shield AI demonstrated collaborative autonomy across multiple Kratos MQM-178 Firejet aircraft. The flight test exercised coordinated behaviours among several autonomous jets.

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• 2024-07-01 - Contract Award - V-BAT selected for U.S. Coast Guard contract

  The U.S. Coast Guard selected V-BAT under a contract worth up to about $198 million for maritime unmanned aircraft system services. The award is tied directly to Shield AI's aircraft platform rather than a broader autonomy-software partnership. The award is one of the clearest large-scale customer validations for V-BAT in U.S. government service.

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• 2023-10-09 - Partnership - Shield AI unveils V-BAT autonomous teaming capability

  It comes in the form of a modular Nvidia GPU upgrade running Hivemind, Shield AI’s AI pilot, which is loaded into the modular payload bay of the V-BAT. * CAPTCHA Back to options Your Platform, Our Autonomy " * " indicates required fields Your name * Work e-mail * Job Title * Company * Country * How can we help?.

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Relationships

• Kraken Technology Group

  Maritime Autonomy Integration Partner - Shield AI and Kraken Technology Group are integrating and validating Hivemind mission autonomy on K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels.

• Defence Science and Technology Agency

  Technology Partner - Expanded partnership to progressively field autonomy capabilities (Hivemind).

• Destinus

  Hivemind Platform Integration - Shield AI and Destinus partner on Hivemind integration for European defense

• Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation

  Advanced Unmanned Systems Teaming Partner - AIDC and Shield AI signed a teaming agreement covering sustainment, training, autonomy integration and local support for unmanned systems in Taiwan.

• GE Aerospace

  X Bat Engine And Thrust Vectoring Integration - Shield AI and GE Aerospace completed engine light-off and thrust-vectoring-nozzle integration for the X-BAT prototype.

• L3Harris Technologies

  Hivemind And Disco Integration - Shield AI and L3Harris are expanding Hivemind–DiSCO integration for autonomous electronic warfare.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

  Mission Autonomy Development Platform - Shield AI Hivemind Enterprise supported MHI mission-autonomy development and UAV flight demonstrations in Japan.

• Innovaero

  Integrates With - Shield AI is integrating Hivemind autonomy into Innovaero’s OWL family under an MoU; OWL-B integration precedes flight testing.

• Republic of Singapore Air Force

  Deployment Partner - Expanded partnership to progressively field autonomy capabilities (Hivemind).

• Aechelon

  Acquired Company - Announced acquisition of simulation software company Aechelon alongside $2B financing.

• Polish Armament Agency

  Unmanned Aircraft Customer - Poland ordered about $16 million of Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT systems for naval reconnaissance and ISR.

• Pentagon / LUCAS program

  Lucas Autonomy Integration Customer - Shield AI was selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy onto the LUCAS combat-drone program.

• Netherlands Ministry of Defence

  Customer - The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected Shield AI V-BAT for Navy and Marine Corps use.

• NAVAIR PMA-263

  Defense Payload Customer - Shield AI delivered first ViDAR payloads to NAVAIR PMA-263 for U.S. Marine Corps operations.

• United States Navy

  Research Contract - The U.S. Navy awarded Shield AI a $150 million X-BAT Other Transaction modification, matched by $150 million from Shield AI.

• GEK TERNA

  Industrial Cooperation Mou - MoU to pursue X-BAT manufacturing and sustainment in Greece; definitive workshare and facilities remain under negotiation.

• Honeywell Aerospace

  Documented Qualified Partnership - Shield AI and Honeywell signed an exploratory memorandum of understanding covering autonomous-aircraft development.

• RTX Corporation

  Partner - RTX and Shield AI are integrating Hivemind and ViDAR into RTX defense systems.

• Thunder Tiger

  Reported Technology Supplier - Shield AI and Thunder Tiger are developing Hivemind autonomy for unmanned maritime systems, following SeaShark teaming tests.

Comparable profiles

• Perennial Autonomy

  stack adjacency

• AeroVironment

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder · Autonomous Flight · Autonomous Mission Execution

• Baykar

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder · Autonomous Flight · Autonomous Mission Execution

• Buntar Aerospace

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder · Autonomous Mission Execution

• Kronshtadt

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder

• Orbotix Industries

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder

• PDW

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder

• Unmanned Defense Systems

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder

• Paramount Advanced Technologies

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder

• Ondas

  stack adjacency - Defence UAV Builder · Drone Autonomy Platform

• Zone 5 Technologies

  stack adjacency - Defence Autonomy Builder · Defence UAV Builder

• Saronic

  stack adjacency - Defence Autonomy Builder

Shared workflows

• Boeing

  workflow adjacency

• Elroy Air

  workflow adjacency

• Elistair

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Isr

• Ghost Robotics

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Autonomous Missions

• Skyfront

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Isr

• NODA AI

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Autonomous Missions

• Chord Robotics

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Autonomous Missions

• Quadsat

  workflow adjacency - Tactical Isr

Context tags

• Drone autonomy software - Stack Layer - Hivemind is Shield AI autonomy software layer.
• Tactical ISR - Workflow - V-BAT is positioned for ISR, border security and threat-finding missions.
• Autonomous mission execution - Capability - Hivemind is positioned for autonomous mission execution in defence environments.
• Defence UAV builder - Stack Layer - Shield AI builds V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems for defence ISR missions.
• Tactical autonomous missions - Workflow - V-BAT and Hivemind for autonomous ISR and tactical missions
• Drone autonomy platform stack - Stack Layer - Hivemind is an autonomy software layer used with V-BAT and other aircraft.
• VTOL unmanned aircraft - Capability - V-BAT is a vertical-takeoff unmanned aircraft.
• Unmanned aircraft OEM - Stack Layer - Shield AI builds V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems.
• Contested defence environments - Customer Environment - V-BAT/Hivemind are positioned for border, oceanic and tactical ISR missions.
• Commercial deployment - Commercial Stage - Active deployed systems with defence customers
• Autonomy software - Stack Layer - Hivemind autonomy stack software layer
• Defence autonomy builder - Stack Layer - Core peer group: defence autonomy software and platforms
• Autonomous flight - Capability - Autonomous flight for V-BAT tactical unmanned aircraft
• Defence customers - Customer Environment - Defence and military customers

• Shield AI receives $150 million Navy modification for X-BAT

  2026-10-08 · Order / contract · Shield AI will match the Other Transaction modification with $150 million of its own capital to advance the autonomous VTOL aircraft.

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• Shield AI expands Taiwan Hivemind contract after three-UAV swarm exercise

  2026-08-06 · Order / contract · Shield AI and Taiwan's NCSIST completed a coordinated autonomous search exercise with three Mighty Hornet III UAVs, leading to a significant expansion of their Hivemind contract.

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• Poland signs $16 million contract for Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT UAVs

  2026-06-23 · Order / contract · Poland’s Armament Agency signed a roughly $16 million contract with Shield AI for MQ-35 V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems for Polish Navy maritime reconnaissance and ISR operations.

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• Shield AI wins USAF production contract for CCA mission autonomy

  2026-06-17 · Order / contract · Shield AI received a U.S. Air Force production contract for Hivemind mission autonomy on Collaborative Combat Aircraft, extending prior CCA autonomy work into a production award.

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• Shield AI selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy on LUCAS combat drone program

  2026-05-19 · Order / contract

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• Shield AI selected to provide V-BAT and Hivemind to the Indian Army

  2026-01-28 · Order / contract

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• Netherlands Ministry of Defence selects V-BAT

  2025-07-08 · Order / contract

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• V-BAT selected by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

  2025-01-22 · Order / contract

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• V-BAT selected for U.S. Coast Guard contract

  2024-07-01 · Order / contract · $198M ceiling

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