Shield AI tapped to integrate autonomous software on LUCAS drone
The company says it will integrate its Hivemind software on the drones, with plans to demo its swarming capability later this year.
The sights of Sea Air Space Day 2
Check out a selection of photos from the show floor.
Satellites at the center: Inside the Pentagon’s next-gen space architecture
From emerging data networks to missile tracking and cyber resilience, Breaking Defense’s latest eBook brings together essential reporting on the evolving role of satellites in national security.
Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight
“While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.
Swiss Destinus, Shield AI wrap European drone autonomy test campaign
Despite the absence of customers, the companies are hoping that the demonstration could tempt European air forces looking for cUAS solutions that can reduce reliance on crewed aircraft.
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How to operate drones in a battlespace where GPS can’t be trusted
Continuation of UAS operations in contested and GPS-denied environments is key.
The drone wingman race kicks into high(er) gear: 2026 preview
Sometime in 2026, the Air Force will make a decision about what designs to produce for the first round of its drone wingmen program. The service is also expected to home in on what it wants next.
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Winning the cognitive domain — A methodology built for democratic constraints
The challenge for Western democratic institutions is not a lack of capability — it is a structural one.
CCA Round 2: Air Force picks 9 vendors for next batch of drone wingmen
The designs selected for the next group of Collaborative Combat Aircraft represent a “broad spectrum” of concepts, which will be narrowed down at a later date for prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense.
In a first, F-22 pilot controls wingman drone from cockpit, General Atomics says
“We already know the F-22 will play a critical role in crewed-uncrewed teaming operations, and General Atomics is in a unique position to get this started now,” company spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense.
Shield AI’s X-BAT drone to be powered by same GE engine as F-15, F-16 fighters (Exclusive)
The announcement marks the first official partnership for GE on a drone wingman platform.
Shield AI unveils X-BAT, a VTOL stealth loyal wingman drone
"When you see it, I believe that you'll probably think to yourself, 'Holy s--, that thing is f--- cool,'" said Shield AI President and Co-founder Brandon Tseng at a Tuesday event.
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America needs next-gen solutions to counter modern air and missile threats
Defending a country the size of the US from threats requires advanced sensing, communications and interception capabilities.
Northrop Grumman’s partners tout AI software, from AR training to mission planning
The six partners will test their software modules on Northrop’s Model 437 Vanguard jet, which returned to the air Sept. 20 after almost a year of modifications for the company’s “Beacon” program.
RTX, Shield AI picked to give Collaborative Combat Aircraft autonomous capabilities
RTX will provide autonomy capabilities for General Atomics’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft offering dubbed the YFQ-42A, while Shield AI will supply the autonomy pilot for Anduril’s YFQ-44A, a source told Breaking Defense.
HII, Shield AI ink partnership to advance drone autonomy software
The new partnership focuses on HII’s Odyssey software suite and Shield AI’s Hivemind mission autonomy software.
RTX, Shield AI announce new partnership for drone & counter-drone tech
Shield’s “Hivemind” autonomy software will go on an undisclosed “operational weapon,” while Shield’s ViDAR sensor software will go on Raytheon’s MTS multi-sensor turret to help in tracking and targeting incoming enemy drones.