Shield AI Timeline
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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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 2026-07-29 - Demonstration - Shield AI and Thunder Tiger complete Hivemind multi-USV autonomy demonstration in Taiwan - SeaShark 600 and SeaShark 800 autonomously planned waypoints and searched a designated area. The unmanned surface vessels used maritime radar, imagery and AIS to identify a target vessel. Hivemind coordinated the vessels' escort response; Shield AI described… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 2026-07-20 - Demonstration - Shield AI and GE complete X-BAT engine integration milestone - The milestone included engine light-off. The team completed thrust-vectoring nozzle integration. The result advances the prototype programme toward vertical-flight testing. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: wojsko-polskie.pl 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: prnewswire.com 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: breakingdefense.com 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… - source: shield.ai 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 - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: mhi.com 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.… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: mhi.com 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… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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 Shield AI builds autonomy software and unmanned aircraft systems for defence and allied operations. - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 2025-09-23 - Demonstration - Shield AI and Airbus complete successful autonomous flight with DT25 target drone - Shield AI and Airbus completed an autonomous flight using the DT25 target drone. Hivemind controlled the partner aircraft during the flight-test programme. - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 2025-08-19 - Demonstration - Airbus and Shield AI accomplish first autonomous Aerial Logistics Connector helicopter flight - Airbus and Shield AI completed the first autonomous flight of the Aerial Logistics Connector helicopter demonstrator. The flight validated Hivemind integration on an Airbus rotary-wing logistics platform. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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 - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 2025-06-25 - Partnership - Shield AI integrates Hivemind Enterprise with AWS for fleet-scale mission autonomy - 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… - source: shield.ai 2025-06-17 - Demonstration - Shield AI advances combat-ready autonomy with second MQ-20 Avenger flight - Hivemind completed a second autonomous flight aboard the MQ-20 Avenger. The test advanced mission-autonomy behaviours on a jet-powered uncrewed aircraft. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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 - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 2025-03-04 - Demonstration - Shield AI's Hivemind flies MQ-20 Avenger autonomously at Orange Flag - Hivemind autonomously flew an MQ-20 Avenger during the Orange Flag exercise. The flight tested mission autonomy in a collaborative operational experiment. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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 - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai 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. - source: shield.ai 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… - source: shield.ai View Shield AI overview