Shield AI acquires radar firm Echodyne in $5.3B deal
The deal, which is expected to close in early 2027, will give Shield an in-house counter-UAS offering
Shield AI cofounder teases ‘snowball’ of X-BAT fighter drone announcements in Europe
Ryan Tseng told Breaking Defense that the prospective deals and new industry pacts will be publicized when “we're ready to announce them.”
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How uncrewed surface vessels performing ISR help build persistent maritime awareness
Think of sensing and detection as a network as opposed to individual unmanned surface vessels.
Navy, Shield AI pour big bucks into X-BAT drone development
Altogether, Shield AI and the US Navy are investing a combined $400 million into the X-BAT drone.
Northrop logs first flight for self-funded drone wingman
The YFQ-48A performed fully autonomous “taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers and landing” over the Mojave Desert in California, according to Northrop Grumman.
In first, Air Force fires live shot off CCA wingman drone
“It wasn’t just an AMRAAM that came off,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told Breaking Defense. “It was tracking the target.”
Poland buys V-Bat UAVs from Shield AI for naval forces
In Ukraine, V-Bat drones have withstood electronic warfare attacks that have downed other UAVs.
From directed energy to AI and hardening, JIATF-401 is widening counter-UAS options
There is no single answer to the drone threat, pushing the Pentagon toward a broader mix of defenses.
Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen
Anduril, Shield AI and Collins have been tapped to develop the autonomy system for the collaborative combat aircraft.
Airbus unveils U145 autonomous helicopter drone for cargo supply ops
Other military roles for the drone cover armed scouting, surveillance, crewed-uncrewed teaming as well as acting as a “mothership” for air launched effects, according to the European prime.
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.
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Mojave STOL and Gray Eagle® 25M: Complementary capabilities for the modern battlefield
Both aircraft are designed to evolve as threats and mission requirements change.
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.