Shield AI, a leading developer of autonomous aircraft and AI software, successfully demonstrated its Hivemind autonomy system on the BQM-177A target drone in August. Conducted under the U.S. Navy’s Experimental Platform for Intelligent Combat (EPIC) project, the flight advances manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) objectives and showcases Shield AI’s capabilities in high-speed, tactical autonomy integration.
Breakthrough in Autonomous Flight
For the first time, Hivemind autonomously flew the BQM-177A, enabling onboard system communication, control handoff, and integration with Kratos’ updated Advanced Vehicle Control Laws (AVCL). The test followed rigorous Navy safety and airworthiness procedures, demonstrating Shield AI’s ability to deploy reliable, scalable, and interoperable autonomy solutions for complex military platforms.
Supporting Navy Innovation
Originally designed as a high-performance aerial target, the BQM-177A served as a low-cost research platform, allowing the Navy to de-risk autonomy development while testing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concepts. The mission integrated Shield AI’s Hivemind software with a modular autonomy kit, onboard compute, communications systems, and human-machine interface, alongside contributions from Kratos and CTSi.
Strategic Implications
“Future air combat will require machine decision-making at machine speed,” said Capt. Todd Keith, PMA-281 program manager. Shield AI’s work supports the Navy’s goal of implementing Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA)-compliant interfaces, enhancing interoperability across autonomous platforms and accelerating operational adoption in fleet applications.
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI develops intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and Hivemind Vision lines. With operations spanning the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI actively supports global defense missions. For more information,
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