Shield AI has been chosen as a mission autonomy provider for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The selection follows a competitive evaluation and marks the first time mission autonomy software has been decoupled from the aircraft itself. Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software has already integrated with Anduril’s Fury (YFQ‑44A) and is supporting system‑level testing ahead of flight demonstrations.
Why this matters
The Air Force is moving quickly to explore how autonomy can reshape air combat. Shield AI’s CEO Gary Steele said the company has spent years building, testing, and flying mission autonomy in the real world and is ready to deliver. Hivemind acts like a human pilot, enabling unmanned systems to sense, decide, and act. Unlike traditional autopilots, it can reroute around no‑fly zones, avoid or engage obstacles, and respond to unexpected conditions without human intervention.
Building on experience
Christian Gutierrez, vice president of Hivemind Solutions, noted that delivering autonomy in real‑world combat conditions is difficult, which is why Shield AI has spent more than a decade building the foundation to do it right. The software is platform‑agnostic, compliant with Autonomy Government Reference Architecture, and has already demonstrated its capabilities across multiple test efforts with partners such as General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Navy, and Airbus.
Investment perspective
For stakeholders, this selection highlights Shield AI’s growing role in defense autonomy. By working alongside the Air Force and industry partners, the company is positioning itself at the center of the next era of airpower. The integration of Hivemind into multiple platforms underscores its scalability and relevance across domains.
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture‑backed deep‑tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems. Its products include the V‑BAT and X‑BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and Hivemind Vision. With offices across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia‑Pacific, Shield AI’s technology supports operations worldwide. Learn more at www.shield.ai
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