Shield AI to integrate AI pilot onto Kratos BQM-177A drone.

Shield AI, a defense technology company building artificial intelligence (AI) based pilot, has been selected by NAVAIR PMA-281 to integrate its AI Pilot onto the Kratos BQM-177A drone, enabling advanced autonomy.

The Hivemind AI pilot, according to the company, is tailored for autonomous operations in high-risk environments, eliminating the dependence on remote operators or GPS. It has demonstrated its efficacy across various aircraft platforms, including quadcopters, the MQ-35A V-BAT, and the F-16, with Shield AI likening its functionality to the autonomous systems found in self-driving cars.

According to the company, the Hivemind AI pilot is crafted for autonomous operations in high-risk environments, functioning without the need for remote operators or GPS. It has shown effectiveness across various aircraft such as quadcopters, the MQ-35A V-BAT, and the F-16, with Shield AI likening its capabilities to those of self-driving car systems.

“I’m also excited to see what our AI pilot will do with the Kratos BQM-177 — an amazing aircraft capable of flying. 95 Mach and as low as 6.6 feet above the ocean. Kratos has been a terrific partner in rolling out our AI pilot onto jet aircraft,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President/Cofounder, a mechanical engineer, and a former U.S. Navy SEAL.

Shield AI's strategy for the Navy contract involves employing a specialized AI architecture utilizing methodologies geared towards enhancing collaborative tactics among multiple sensor-equipped or shooter-equipped unmanned aircraft, thereby improving defensive counterair operations, as stated in the announcement.

The integration of Hivemind into the Kratos BQM-177A represents the eighth aircraft type to benefit from Shield AI's technology, the company added.