Shield AI announced on March 26, 2026, its planned acquisition of Aechelon Technology Inc., a defense software company specializing in high-fidelity simulation, physics-based sensors, and synthetic reality applications. Aechelon's technology is crucial for training U.S. military and allied pilots and testing advanced aircraft and autonomous systems, supporting platforms like the Pentagon’s Joint Simulation Environment (JSE). This acquisition will accelerate Shield AI's work with Hivemind, particularly in simulation for AI pilot development and advancing its Hivemind Foundation Model for Defense. The transaction is expected to close following customary regulatory approvals, with Aechelon continuing to operate independently under Shield AI.