Shield AI, Inc.

About Shield AI

Shield AI, Inc. is a US defense technology company headquartered in San Diego, California. The company develops artificial intelligence-based autonomous pilot systems, drones and technologies for defense operations. Core products are the Hivemind autonomy and AI software stack, the autonomous quadcopter drone Nova or Nova 2 for reconnaissance in GPS-denied environments, the VTOL drone system V-BAT (acquired with Martin UAV) as well as the VTOL fighter jet X-BAT unveiled in 2025. The software enables drones and aircraft to maneuver autonomously in environments with degraded GPS or communication reception. Customers include the US Special Operations Command, the US Air Force, the US Marine Corps, the US Navy as well as several foreign armed forces, including Brazil and Ukraine. According to the company, Nova was the first AI-enabled drone to be used for defense purposes in the history of the US military. In addition to its headquarters in San Diego, Shield AI maintains an office in the United Arab Emirates and, since 2025, an office in Kyiv to support the Ukraine's V-BAT fleet.

Site

San Diego, California, USA

Processes

AI autonomy software (Hivemind), Drone system Nova / Nova 2, VTOL drones V-BAT, Drone swarming capability V-BAT Teams, VTOL fighter jet X-BAT

Materials

Hivemind – AI autonomy software stack, Nova / Nova 2 – autonomous quadcopter sUAS, V-BAT – VTOL drone system, V-BAT Teams – swarming capability, X-BAT – VTOL fighter jet

Certificates

ISO 9001

Founded

2015

Industries

Defense technology, Aerospace, Artificial intelligence

1. 01

   Development of AI software stack (Hivemind)

2. 02

   Development and integration of unmanned aerial systems

3. 03

   Testing and operational support

4. 04

   Customized fleet support (e.g. Kyiv office)

Technologies & Platforms

Locations

Products & Systems

Inside the production

Quality & Program Partnerships

As a contractor of the US Department of Defense for tactical systems, Shield AI works with USSOCOM, the US Air Force, the US Marine Corps and the US Navy; specific certifications are not documented in the sources.

History

1. 2015

   Founded in San Diego by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng and Andrew Reiter with USD 100,000 in start-up capital; start of the Nova prototype

2. 2016

   First contract from the US Department of Defense's DIU autonomy program

3. 2018

   Nova first deployed in the Middle East for reconnaissance and combat support

4. 2021

   USD 7.2 million contract from the US Air Force; acquisitions of Heron Systems and Martin UAV; valuation above USD 1 billion; release of Nova 2

5. 2022

   Valuation of USD 2.3 billion; USD 60 million AFWERX STRATFI contract; JADC2 program; office in the UAE; participation in the Digital Horizon exercise in Bahrain; V-BAT order from Brazil

6. 2023

   USD 200 million financing at a USD 2.7 billion valuation

7. 2024

   Accident during a manual VTOL landing of a V-BAT; subsequent development toward unmanned take-off and landing

8. 2025

   Office in Kyiv; Gary Steele succeeds Ryan Tseng as CEO; sanctions imposed by China; unveiling of the X-BAT; planned flight test facility in Newton, Kansas

9. 2026

   Series G of USD 1.5 billion at a USD 12.7 billion valuation plus USD 500 million in preferred capital; planned acquisition of Aechelon Technology