US-based firm Shield AI and European company Destinus have announced a strategic partnership to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind mission autonomy software across Destinus’ aerial platforms.
The initiative combines Shield AI’s autonomy expertise with Destinus’ manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the deployment of AI-enabled unmanned systems for defense operations in Ukraine and Europe.
Under the agreement, Hivemind will be deployed on Destinus’ Ruta and Hornet unmanned aerial systems, enabling the platforms to share information, coordinate actions, and adapt in real-time to in-flight target updates.
Moreover, the software will connect Destinus’ systems with Shield AI’s V‑BAT drones.
By allowing different types of aircraft to exchange data and operate jointly, the integration is intended to support coordinated reconnaissance-strike missions.
Joint flight demonstrations are scheduled for next year to assess interoperability across the systems.
“By allowing platforms to perceive, decide, and act together in real-time, Hivemind delivers scalable autonomy that enhances coordination, survivability, and mission success across the battlespace,” said Nathan Michael, Shield AI Chief Technology Officer and Head of the Hivemind Business Unit.
Shield AI’s Hivemind
Hivemind is a modular, platform-agnostic autonomy software that uses AI tools to process sensor data, evaluate the environment, and track the vehicle’s status, even in GPS-denied or communications-limited conditions.
It allows human operators to define mission objectives, adjust tasks in real-time, and monitor system performance.
Built-in verification and testing tools support simulations, performance analysis, and compliance with safety standards.
The software has already been used in several flight tests on different aircraft.
In September, it supported the first autonomous flight of the US Navy’s BQM-177A drone, advancing work on beyond-visual-range operations and collaborative aircraft concepts.
The month before, Airbus carried out its first autonomous flight of an H145 helicopter using the system.
