Company / Technology
Shield AI
US defence-technology company developing the Hivemind autonomy software and the V-BAT VTOL unmanned aircraft.
San Diego, United StatesTechnology systems
About the company
About Shield AI
Shield AI was founded in San Diego in 2015 by Ryan Tseng, former Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng and Andrew Reiter. The venture-backed company builds artificial-intelligence pilots for military aircraft and has grown to more than 1,000 employees.
Its core product is Hivemind, an autonomy stack that lets aircraft navigate, plan and execute missions without GPS or a continuous communications link. Hivemind has flown on Shield AI's own platforms as well as on the General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger, Kratos target drones and other aircraft.
Through the 2021 acquisition of Martin UAV, Shield AI also produces the V-BAT, a vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAS that operates from ships and small clearings with endurance of more than ten hours. The company has raised several funding rounds valuing it in the tens of billions of US dollars.
In the news11 stories
V-BAT for Taiwan: Coast Guard takes delivery of first drones from Shield AI
Twelve vertical take-off V-BAT are set to strengthen maritime surveillance around Taiwan. The first Shield AI systems have been handed over, and training and local maintenance are being set up together with AIDC.
Military drones for the Polish Navy: Shield AI to deliver MQ-35A V-Bat
Poland is buying MQ-35A V-Bat military drones from Shield AI in a contract worth around 16 million US dollars. Operating from ships, the vertical take-off systems are to provide reconnaissance and protect critical infrastructure – capabilities gaining importance in the Baltic Sea.
Combat drone X-BAT: Greece's air force evaluates AI system from Shield AI
As a loyal wingman for its future F-35s, the X-BAT combat drone is of military and industrial interest to Greece. According to the specialist portal OnAlert, the air force is evaluating the system; Athens is competing mainly with Poland for possible production.
Counter-UAS and air defence in focus: “DroneVation & Defence 2026” continues to grow in Vienna
More than 1,000 visitors, two stages, talks by the Bundesheer, industry and Ukrainian practitioners: the symposium in Vienna spanned counter-UAS, electronic warfare and the lessons learned from Ukraine.
Counter-UAS with 70 mm rockets: Belgian F-16s test the FZ275 LGR, which the Bundesheer is also receiving
For counter-UAS use, the Belgian Luchtmacht has tested Thales Belgium's FZ275 LGR guided rocket on F-16s near Lombardsijde on the North Sea coast. This is relevant for Austria: the same weapon is to arm the Bundesheer's AW169MA and M-346FA.
Reconnaissance drones for Armenia: Washington delivers Shield AI's V-BAT to Yerevan
For the first time, the US is officially announcing a major arms deal with Armenia: the agreement on V-BAT reconnaissance drones is worth around 11 million US dollars. It became public after J.D. Vance's visit to Yerevan.
Drone trade fair in Vienna: “DroneVation & Defence” returns for its second edition on 21 May
After 49 exhibitors and around 700 trade visitors at the premiere, organiser Militär Aktuell expects more exhibitors and almost twice as many sponsors for the second “DroneVation & Defence” drone trade fair. The programme expands to two stages.
Unmanned systems in the CCA programme: US Air Force selects Shield AI as mission autonomy provider
The Hivemind autonomy software is already flying in Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury, with flight demonstrations expected in the coming months. Now the US Air Force has selected Shield AI for the TMRR phase of its programme for unmanned systems in air combat.
Shield AI appoints Mark Pfeiffer as Head of Business Development for Austria, Germany and Czechia
Three markets, one new lead: at Shield AI, Mark Pfeiffer will in future be in charge of business in Austria, Germany and Czechia. The industry expert previously worked for IABG, Hensoldt Analytics and SAIL Labs, among others.
V-BAT for the Sakura class: Japan's navy receives first drones from Shield AI
The first delivery of V-BAT drones has arrived in Yokosuka. The vertical take-off drones are to supplement the new Sakura-class patrol vessels, with which the JMSDF intends to relieve destroyers and minesweepers of surveillance tasks.
AI fighter jet X-BAT: Shield AI unveils autonomous vertical take-off aircraft with Hivemind pilot
In Washington D.C., Shield AI has shown a mock-up of the X-BAT – an autonomous AI fighter jet that takes off and lands vertically. It is to be operational from 2027/28. What lies behind the concept and which questions remain open.