Shield AI
Shield AI develops autonomous aircraft and AI pilots for defense missions. Its Hivemind autonomy stack and V-BAT aircraft support ISR, targeting and contested-environment operations where drones need to navigate, coordinate and complete missions with limited communications.
Market context
Shield AI is one of the clearer examples of a company combining autonomous aircraft with an in-house autonomy stack for defence use. That matters because it gives it exposure to both the vehicle layer and the software layer rather than relying on one alone.
Facts
- Website: https://shield.ai
- HQ: San Diego, United States
- Founded: 2015
- Segment: defense robotics
- Known funding rounds: 2
Investors
- Andreessen Horowitz - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- ARK Invest - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- Booz Allen Ventures - Participant - Vc - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- Disruptive - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- Hanwha Asset Management - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- L3Harris - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- Riot Ventures - Participant - Vc - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-03-06
- Snowpoint Ventures - Participant - Vc - 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
Commercial
7 commercial events; 7 contract awards; 5 named customers; $198M disclosed ceiling value; latest event 2026-06-23
- 2026-06-23 - Contract award - Poland signs $16 million contract for Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT UAVs - Polish Armament Agency - source: wojsko-polskie.pl
- 2026-06-17 - Contract award - Shield AI wins USAF production contract for CCA mission autonomy - source: prnewswire.com
- 2026-05-19 - Contract award - Shield AI selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy on LUCAS combat drone program - source: breakingdefense.com
- 2026-01-28 - Contract award - Shield AI selected to provide V-BAT and Hivemind to the Indian Army - Indian Army - source: shield.ai
- 2025-07-08 - Contract award - Netherlands Ministry of Defence selects V-BAT - Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Navy and Marine Corps) - source: shield.ai
- 2025-01-22 - Contract award - V-BAT selected by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - First maritime ISR platform selection - source: shield.ai
- 2024-07-01 - Contract award - V-BAT selected for U.S. Coast Guard contract - U.S. Coast Guard - $198M ceiling - source: shield.ai
Defence autonomy and unmanned aircraft company
Shield AI develops Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT uncrewed aircraft systems for defence missions in GPS-denied and contested environments.
- Target environment: Defence operations, ISR missions, GPS-denied areas, maritime patrol, border security and tactical airspace.
- Deployment model: Defence autonomy software and UAS platform supply through military contracts, partner integrations and uncrewed system programs.
- Customer context: Armed forces, defence agencies, allied military customers and operators needing autonomous mission systems.
- Workflow context: Autonomous flight, ISR, beyond-visual-range operation, perception, mission reasoning, tactical reconnaissance and unmanned aircraft deployment.
- Commercial maturity: Commercially scaled defence technology company with V-BAT contracts and Hivemind integrations across military programs.
- Market position: Defence autonomy company combining aircraft hardware with an AI pilot software layer.
- Adoption constraints: Adoption depends on military procurement, operational validation, contested-environment reliability, platform integration, export rules and mission trust.
- Adjacent context: Adjacent context includes defence autonomy, Group 3 UAS, AI pilots, ISR drones and GPS-denied robotic systems.
- Source confidence: high
Events
- 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…
- 2026-06-22 - Acquisition - Shield AI completes acquisition of Aechelon Technology - 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. The transaction changes the company capital base, ownershi…
- 2026-06-17 - Contract Award - Shield AI wins USAF production contract for CCA mission autonomy - 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. The customer-backed award strengthens Shield AI's position in unmanned aircraft, ai…
- 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…
- 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 anoth…
- 2026-03-26 - Acquisition - Shield AI to acquire Aechelon and raise $2 billion at a $12.7 billion valuation - Shield AI announced the acquisition of Aechelon Technology. The same announcement included $1.5 billion in Series G funding and $500 million in preferred equity financing. The primary event should be classified as acquisition, with financing details carried i…
- 2026-03-24 - Capability - 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 The event is tied to Hivemind rather than a Shield AI aircraft product
- 2026-03-19 - Capability - Northrop Grumman's Talon IQ flies Shield AI's Hivemind software - Northrop Grumman's Talon IQ flies with Shield AI's Hivemind software The event is a cross-platform autonomy validation milestone The event is tied to Hivemind rather than a Shield AI aircraft product
- 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…
- 2026-03-17 - Capability - Shield AI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., complete autonomous flight tests in under 60 days - Shield AI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries complete autonomous flight tests in under 60 days The event is a Hivemind integration milestone on a partner platform The event is tied to mission autonomy rather than a Shield AI aircraft product
- 2026-03-03 - Capability - Shield AI's V-BAT proves cold weather capabilities in NATO's arena HEIMDALL exercise - Shield AI says V-BAT proved cold-weather capabilities in NATO's arena HEIMDALL exercise The event is tied directly to the V-BAT aircraft This is an operational validation event rather than a procurement event
- 2026-02-26 - Capability - Hivemind successfully completes first CCA flight test aboard Anduril's YFQ-44A aircraft - Shield AI says Hivemind completed its first CCA flight test aboard Anduril's YFQ-44A The event is tied to Hivemind and the CCA stack, not a Shield AI aircraft product The event is a major autonomy milestone in the CCA program context
- 2026-02-19 - Capability - Shield AI demonstrates AI-enabled autonomy for future Collaborative Combat Aircraft - Shield AI demonstrates AI-enabled autonomy for future Collaborative Combat Aircraft The event is tied to Hivemind and CCA autonomy development It is a capability milestone rather than a procurement or launch event
- 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 insi…
- 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 signs a contract with NCSIST in Taiwan The event is tied to AI pilot / mission autonomy work rather than a specific Shield AI aircraft
- 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 partnershi…
- 2026-02-04 - Partnership - Shield AI and ST Engineering sign MoU to boost next-generation autonomous defense capabilities - Shield AI and ST Engineering sign an MoU on autonomous defense capabilities The event is tied to Hivemind integration across selected ST Engineering platforms
- 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 in…
- 2026-01-22 - Partnership - LIG Nex1 and Shield AI hold contract commemoration event at UMEX 2026 - Shield AI and LIG Nex1 hold a contract commemoration event at UMEX 2026 The event reflects a defense partnership / program relationship
- 2025-12-03 - Partnership - Shield AI expands into space domain through partnership with Sedaro - Shield AI announces a partnership with Sedaro The event is tied to expansion into the space domain
- 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.
- 2025-11-05 - Partnership - GE Aerospace and Shield AI to collaborate on propulsion for X-BAT vehicle program - GE Aerospace and Shield AI announce collaboration on propulsion for X-BAT The event is tied directly to the X-BAT vehicle program
- 2025-11-03 - Capability - Shield AI and HII successfully combine proven autonomy in USV operations - Shield AI and HII announce a USV autonomy milestone The event is tied to autonomy software rather than a Shield AI aircraft product
- 2025-10-22 - Product Launch - Shield AI unveils X-BAT AI-piloted VTOL fighter aircraft - Shield AI unveiled X-BAT as an AI-piloted VTOL fighter aircraft for contested operating environments. The aircraft is positioned above V-BAT in Shield AI's portfolio and is tied to the company's Hivemind autonomy stack. The launch expands Shield AI's public r…
Team
- 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.
Supply chain relationships
- Anduril Industries - Technology Partner - First CCA flight test: Hivemind aboard Anduril YFQ-44A.
Context tags
- Defence UAV builder - Peer Group - Shield AI builds V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems for defence ISR missions.
- 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.
- Unmanned aircraft OEM - Stack Layer - Shield AI builds V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems.
- Drone autonomy platform - Peer Group - 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.
- 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 - Peer Group - Core peer group: defence autonomy software and platforms
- Tactical autonomous missions - Workflow - V-BAT and Hivemind for autonomous ISR and tactical missions
- Autonomous flight - Capability - Autonomous flight for V-BAT tactical unmanned aircraft
- Defence customers - Customer Environment - Defence and military customers
Customers and deployments
- Production Contract Status - USAF production contract for CCA mission autonomy - 2026-06-17 - U.S. Air Force - mission autonomy production - Shield AI received a U.S. Air Force production contract for Hivemind mission a…
- Commercial Rollout - Hivemind autonomy selected for LUCAS - 2026-05-19 - Pentagon / LUCAS program - United States - Shield AI was selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy software onto the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack…
- Procurement Status - V-BAT and Hivemind selected for Indian Army - 2026-01-28 - Indian Army - defense UAS and autonomy procurement - Shield AI was selected to supply V-BAT aircraft together with Hivemind autonomy softwa…
- Active Customer Operations - V-BAT supported U.S. Navy ISR operations during UNITAS 2025 - 2025-10-21 - U.S. Navy - ISR operations - Shield AI's V-BAT supported ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025. - sou…
- Active Customer Operations - V-BAT missions supporting Frontex border and emergency operations - 2025-08-06 - Frontex - border and emergency operations - Shield AI completed V-BAT missions supporting Frontex border and…
- Selection Status - V-BAT selected for Navy and Marine Corps - 2025-07-08 - Netherlands Ministry of Defence - defense UAS procurement - The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected Shield AI V-BAT to equip its Navy and M…
- Reported Sorties - 130+ V-BAT sorties in Ukraine - 2025-04-17 - Ukrainian forces - defense UAS operations - Shield AI reported more than 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces. - source postur…
- First Customer Shipments - first ViDAR payloads delivered to NAVAIR PMA-263 - 2025-03-28 - NAVAIR PMA-263 - airborne wide-area maritime search payload operations - Shield AI delivered its first ViDAR payloads to NAVAIR…
- Selection Status - V-BAT selected as first maritime ISR platform - 2025-01-22 - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - defense maritime UAS - Shield AI V-BAT was selected as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force first mari…
- Contract Value Usd - $198 million - 2024-07-01 - U.S. Coast Guard - maritime unmanned aircraft services - Shield AI said V-BAT was selected for a $198 million U.S. Coast Guard maritime unmanned aircraft system services…
Articles
- 2026-03-06 - Shield AI is turning autonomy software into a defence aircraft company - The companys latest funding, simulation acquisition and X-BAT launch show a defence autonomy stack forming across software, training…
Shield AI canonical Korthos profile