Nov 202605
Shield AI agrees to buy Echodyne
Designs and manufactures compact, solid-state radars using its patented Metamaterials Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) technology.
Up to $5.3 billionPending
Company
Shield AI
Shield AI builds autonomy software and drones for the U.S. military and its allies, including the Hivemind autonomy stack and the V-BAT aircraft. ↗
| Headquarters | San Diego, California ↗ |
|---|---|
| Founders | Brandon Tseng, co-founder ↗ |
| Leadership | Gary Steele, CEO ↗ |
| Department of War obligations | $38 million in prime contracts since fiscal 2022 ↗ |
| Ownership | Private ↗; $200 million ↗; $1.5 billion Series G ↗ |
Products
- Hivemind is Shield AI's autonomy stack for aircraft, built to be modular and human-directable. ↗
- V-BAT is Shield AI's AI-powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which came through its acquisition of Martin UAV. ↗
- X-BAT is an autonomous vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft that Shield AI introduced in 2025. ↗
- Nova is an autonomous quadcopter drone that uses lidar and was Shield AI's first drone. ↗
- V-BAT Teams is a swarming capability that lets one operator command at least four V-BAT drones. ↗
Customers
Deals since 2020
Mar 202626
Shield AI buys Aechelon Technology
Seller: Sagewind Capital
A provider of simulation and geo-specific databases supporting both manned and unmanned systems across all major Department of War service branches.
UndisclosedClosed Jun 22, 2026
Apr 202515
Shield AI buys Crowdbotics Data Driven Readiness
Seller: Crowdbotics
A software analytics tool that collects, processes and visualizes flight data to assess pilot proficiency for post-mission debriefs.
UndisclosedClosed
Apr 202404
Shield AI buys Sentient Vision Systems
Australia-based leader in AI-enabled real-time situational awareness
UndisclosedClosed
Jul 202128
Shield AI buys Martin UAV
Aerospace company best known for the V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aircraft
UndisclosedClosed
Jul 202122
Shield AI buys Heron Systems
Winners of the DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials, developer of AI for fighter aircraft
UndisclosedClosed Jul 22, 2021
Our coverage
- M&AShield AI agrees to buy Echodyne in $5.3 billion radar dealThe acquisition would expand Shield's Mission Systems business with counter-drone radars. A $2.5 billion financing package includes structured equity from Blackstone-managed funds.
- Industry · Autonomous combat aircraftShield AI says X-BAT per-aircraft cost could fall to $25 million, Breaking Defense reportsBreaking Defense reports a higher-end sensor configuration could add $10 million. Shield AI aims to begin production in 2029.
- Contracts · DronesPDW plans Booz Allen autonomy software for its AM drones and Army-bought C100The AM package entered controlled testing on Sept. 30. The Oct. 9 announcement named no government buyer, contract or funding for the software on either aircraft.
- Contracts · Uncrewed combat aircraftNavy puts $150 million in Pentagon exportability money into Shield AI's X-BATShield AI will match it with $150 million of its own, taking announced commitments to $400 million. Flight testing of the AI-piloted fighter is scheduled for later this year.