Shield AI awarded U.S. Air Force production contract for Hivemind mission autonomy software integration in collaborative combat aircraft

Type: Supply Agreement · Technology: Defense · Country: United States · Announced: 2026-06-17

Shield AI, a defense technology company specializing in autonomous solutions and next-generation aircraft, secured a production contract from the U.S. Air Force to implement its Hivemind mission autonomy software for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The agreement marks a critical step in integrating AI-driven autonomy into the Air Force's future fleet of unmanned combat aircraft, with Hivemind enabling collaborative operations between manned and unmanned platforms. Shield AI's software will power the CCA program, which aims to deploy hundreds of autonomous aircraft to enhance mission flexibility and reduce pilot workload. The contract follows Shield AI's prior engagements with the Air Force, including successful demonstrations of Hivemind in operational scenarios. No financial terms were disclosed, but the deal underscores the Pentagon's accelerating push to field AI-enabled systems under its CCA initiative.

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