Latest news with #V-BAT
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Northrop launches "Beacon" autonomy partnership using Model 437 aircraft
Northrop Grumman is collaborating with at least four other companies to more-quickly test and deliver autonomy under a previously undisclosed initiative dubbed Beacon. Why it matters: " There are a lot of new companies, particularly in the AI space and the autonomy space, that are out there doing a lot of very interesting things," Tom Jones, the president of Northrop's aeronautics systems sector, told Axios at the Paris Air Show. "There's been this idea that with some of these small companies — these new entrants — it's 'us versus them.' It's an 'either or,'" he added. "I don't think it is." State of play: The Beacon test bed involves digital environments and real-world trials using a modified Model 437 Vanguard aircraft made by Northrop subsidiary Scaled Composites. Flights are expected this year. Beacon was realized using internal research-and-development money. The intrigue: Shield AI, maker of the V-BAT drone and Hivemind autonomy software, is among the initial round of partners. Three other memorandums of agreement have been signed. A few more are in the pipeline. "We know them. We can work well together. We know what their product does," Jones said. "We're able to very rapidly show customers: Here's what this capability can bring." Zoom out: Unmanned technologies and other smart machinery are in high demand around the world. The U.S. Air Force wants robo-wingmen flying alongside its F-35s and -47s. The Navy, meanwhile, wants its warships flanked by drone boats toting jammers, interceptors and communication relays. The bottom line: "We want to dispel this idea that big companies can't move fast, can't be innovative," Jones said.
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
38. Shield AI
Founders: Ryan Tseng, Brandon Tseng, Andrew ReiterCEO: Gary SteeleLaunched: 2015Headquarters: San Diego, CaliforniaFunding: $1.2 billionValuation: $5.3 billionKey Technologies: Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, edge computing, machine learning, roboticsIndustry: DefensePrevious appearances on Disruptor 50 list: 0 Shield AI could change the way warfare is conducted by enabling autonomous AI systems to fly drones and aircraft. Shield AI's core technology, called Hivemind, is an AI pilot software. Shield AI has deployed it in drones, including the V-BAT, which has been used in the Russia-Ukraine war, and Nova quadcopters. Hivemind has also been tested in fighter jets. The key advantage of such systems is that they can operate in areas where there is no communication or GPS, including on the battlefield. In Ukraine, for instance, the V-BAT has been used for long-range missions like targeting Russian surface-to-air missiles. "Hivemind is an homage to one of my favorite video games – StarCraft. It's a sci-fi real-time strategy game. Hivemind is self-driving technology for aircraft," Shield AI co-founder Brandon Tseng said in an interview with The War Zone. Pilotless fighter planes no longer seem a pipedream. But in the near future, Shield AI is most likely to establish a sales pipeline among defense companies that require battlefield or advanced intelligence and reconnaissance. Drones are especially good at that. A former Navy Seal, Tseng founded Shield AI with his brother, Ryan, an entrepreneur. Autonomy expert Andrew Reiter joined as co-founder. In May 2025, Shield AI named a new CEO, tech entrepreneur Gary Steele, who had formerly led analytics company Splunk before selling it to Cisco. Steele has experience in enterprise sales and partnerships. Shield is one of several companies bringing AI and autonomy into warfare to make the 2025 Disruptor 50 list, including the much larger company Anduril, this year's No. 1 Disruptor. Shield AI is backed by a16z, Riot Ventures and the US Innovative Technology Fund. AI technology in warfare raises concerns among ethicists, who question whether the decisions to use lethal force should be made in contexts where humans cannot intervene. Shield AI has responded by pointing out that recent advances in autonomous warfare are part of a continuum that began with unguided bombs. "Wishing these algorithmic capabilities away in the name of ensuring more human control is akin to removing the laser guidance kit from a Hellfire missile and demanding that the pilot provide all the aiming – the operator's toolkit is just poorer, and civilians are likely to pay the price," the company wrote in a blog post. Shield AI has established a recent trio of important partnerships and expanded its global presence. In December, it partnered with defense giant Palantir Technologies to integrate its Hivemind system with Palantir's operating system, which in turn enables other defense contractors to produce arms, faster. Last November, Shield AI partnered with Indian conglomerate JSW Group to establish a facility in India for V-BAT manufacturing. And last May, Shield AI expanded into Australia through its acquisition of Sentient Vision Systems, opening a new office in Melbourne.
Axios
09-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Defense firms unveil new weapons at Sea-Air-Space naval conference
Some of the world's most influential weapons makers brought their wares to National Harbor, Maryland, this week for the Sea-Air-Space convention. Some even unveiled new products. Why it matters: Defense conferences are a bellwether for U.S. strategy and industry plasticity. This one, hosted by Navy League, is no different. Here's just a sample of what was announced, offered and on display: Copperhead-100, -500 and the explosive -M variant, torpedo-like unmanned underwater vehicles made by Anduril Industries. The company's Dive-XL can carry "dozens of Copperhead-100Ms or multiple Copperhead-500Ms," according to an announcement. Bullseye, a missile reminiscent of Ice Breaker, that will be produced by General Atomics and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. They will be pumped out in Tupelo, Mississippi, according to the companies. Delivery is expected in the backend of this year. Bofors 40 Mk4, a naval gun capable of firing 300 rounds per minute and taking out aircraft and boats. It was the first time it made an appearance in the U.S., according to BAE Systems. Colombia bought one in March; the Netherlands and Belgium committed to eight last year. Leonidas H20, the latest version of Epirus' electronics-frying microwave weapon. The H20 is meant to counter aerial drones and unmanned surface vessels. It was successfully trialed at the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise-Coastal Trident. Wombat, a sensor-jammer combo made by BlueHalo using internal research dollars. The prototype was spurred by the U.S. Navy's persistent elevated sensor needs, chief technology officer Vikram Manikonda told Axios. An upgraded V-BAT that manufacturer Shield AI said vertically launches and lands unassisted, flies for more than 13 hours and consumes JP-5, a common maritime aviation fuel. V-BAT is the first-ever shipboard drone used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as Axios exclusively reported earlier this year. A combo of Saildrone's Surveyor and Thales Australia's BlueSentry towed array, meant to autonomously hunt submarines and monitor subsea conditions.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MQ-35 V-BAT's Capabilities Grow, Micro Guided Munitions Coming Next Year
Shield AI continues to make major enhancements to its versatile V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing drone, as well as the Hive Mind autonomy software that underpins its operations. From a successful combat trial in Ukraine to expanding V-BAT's connectivity and even getting kinetic strike options, our Jamie Hunter got the low-down on the future of the increasingly popular unmanned system from company co-founder Brandon Tseng on the floor of Sea Air Space 2025: Contact the editor: Tyler@
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Shield AI unveils V-BAT block upgrade powered by Hivemind: advanced autonomy, SATCOM, and heavy-fuel engine among new features
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft, today unveiled the latest evolution of its combat-proven V-BAT. The latest V-BAT offers Group 4 and 5 capabilities in a Group 3 package. It's purpose-built to solve the hardest operational problems facing the U.S. and its allies: finding and targeting threats in GPS- and communications-denied environments, securing borders, and enabling persistent maritime surveillance. 'The most forward-thinking militaries are swapping out their larger, more expensive ISR aircraft—which are too vulnerable for how much they cost — and accomplishing the same missions with smaller, more affordable drones, like V-BAT,' said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI's President, Co-founder, and a former Navy SEAL. 'V-BAT is built for the full spectrum of drone missions—from deep-penetration ISR-T where GPS and comms are jammed to border security, search and rescue, and drug interdiction. If there's a mission out there, V-BAT can do it—faster, cheaper, and where others can't.' V-BAT now boasts a heavy-fuel engine optimized for JP-5, the most common maritime aircraft fuel, extending its endurance beyond 13 hours while ensuring seamless compatibility with naval and expeditionary operations. Enhancing its unmatched versatility, V-BAT now features a fully unassisted vertical launch and landing (VTOL) capability, eliminating the need for a human operator to assist in takeoff or recovery. It still requires no runway, catapult, or net recovery, and its patented ducted-fan design enables safe, precise landings on moving ships, rooftops, and confined areas—even in high winds and rough seas. These capabilities have made V-BAT the unmanned aircraft of choice for maritime and expeditionary forces, deploying on nearly every class of U.S. Navy ship and with all seven Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs). The U.S. Coast Guard recently selected V-BAT for a major ISR operations contract, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) named it their first-ever ship-based ISR platform. V-BAT is Hivemind Pilot-ready, enabling operators to integrate Shield AI's AI-powered autonomy software for best-in-class perception and cognition. SATCOM integration also provides Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) command and control (C2), allowing operators to conduct missions from anywhere in the world. V-BAT supports multi-payload integration, including ViDAR -enabled passive wide-area motion imagery, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic warfare payloads, expanding operational flexibility across domains. Visitors to the U.S. Navy League Sea-Air-Space Maritime Expo in National Harbor, Maryland, this week can see a special edition U.S. Coast Guard V-BAT model at Shield AI's booth (#1101). Stop by to learn more about V-BAT and how Shield AI is advancing autonomous aircraft for maritime operations. About Shield AI Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI's technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
