USAF Picks Shield AI’s Hivemind Autonomy Software for CCA YFQ-44A
The US Air Force (USAF) has selected Shield AI to supply its mission autonomy software for a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program drone prototype.
Shield AI’s Hivemind is integrated into Anduril’s YFQ-44A “Fury” uncrewed aerial vehicle, one of the two competing aircraft alongside General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A for CCA Increment 1.
It will support systems-level testing ahead of flight demonstrations in the coming months, following a competitive evaluation supporting technology maturity and risk reduction efforts for the program.
Shield AI executives noted how the company spent over a decade working on Hivemind, as well as the technical and operational foundations, to deliver mission autonomy in real-world combat conditions.
“The Air Force is moving with urgency to explore how autonomy can reshape air combat, and we have spent years preparing for this — building, testing, and flying mission autonomy in the real world,” said company CEO Gary Steele.
News of the USAF reportedly choosing Shield AI to equip the YFQ-44A with Hivemind, as well as tapping RTX to provide a similar system for GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A, circulated in September 2025.
Mission Autonomy
Powered by artificial intelligence, Hivemind functions like a human pilot or operator directing uncrewed defense systems to autonomously execute complex tasks during missions.
The platform-agnostic digital brain is capable of rerouting around no-fly zones instead of simply following preplanned routes, avoiding or engaging obstacles, responding to unexpected conditions, and completing missions without human intervention.
This makes it suitable for the USAF’s efforts in developing autonomous or semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft to fly alongside crewed fighter jets as their “loyal wingmen” under the CCA program.
Hivemind has been tested and integrated with several aerial platforms, including GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger drone, Airbus’ H145 helicopter, Destinus’ Ruta and Hornet drones, and the US Navy’s BQM-177A target drone.
