Shield AI, the deep-tech company developing advanced autonomy software and aircraft, has been selected as a mission autonomy provider supporting the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
The company was chosen following a competitive evaluation to support mission autonomy Technology Maturity and Risk Reduction (TMRR) efforts. As part of the program, Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software has been integrated into Anduril Industries’ Fury (YFQ-44A) aircraft and is currently supporting system-level testing ahead of flight demonstrations expected in the coming months.
“Shield AI is proud to be named a mission autonomy provider supporting the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program,” said Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI. “The Air Force is moving urgently to explore how autonomy can reshape air combat. We have spent years preparing for this moment—building, testing, and flying mission autonomy in real-world environments—and we will work relentlessly to help advance the next era of airpower alongside our partners.”
Hivemind, Shield AI’s flagship artificial intelligence software, functions as a virtual pilot or operator, enabling unmanned systems to sense, decide, and act independently. Unlike traditional autopilots that follow pre-programmed routes, Hivemind can adapt dynamically—rerouting around no-fly zones, avoiding or engaging obstacles, responding to unexpected conditions, and completing missions without human intervention.
“Delivering mission autonomy in real-world combat conditions is extremely challenging,” said Christian Gutierrez, vice president of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI. “Our team brings more than a decade of experience fielding mission-critical autonomy on complex systems, deep operational expertise across domains, and a development model built for speed.”
Hivemind is Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) compliant and platform-agnostic, with demonstrated integrations across multiple government and industry efforts, including programs with General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Navy, and Airbus.
Photo: Anduril Industries (top) XQF-44 and General Atomics XQ-42 Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force are shown in an artist’s concept
Source: Shield AI