1 hour ago
21
Shield AI, the San Diego-based defense technology company best known for its autonomous drone software, is in discussions to raise a new funding round that would value the firm at $20 billion or more. That would represent a roughly 60% leap from its post-money valuation of $12.7 billion following a $2 billion Series G round closed in March 2026.
Shield AI’s projected revenue for 2026 is expected to surpass $540 million, representing more than 80% growth year-over-year. The company’s March fundraise comprised $1.5 billion in equity and $500 million in preferred equity.
At the core of the company’s pitch is Hivemind, its proprietary autonomy software platform, which allows drones and aircraft to fly, navigate, and execute missions without relying on GPS. In June 2026, the US Air Force awarded Shield AI a production contract to integrate Hivemind into its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Shield AI builds the V-BAT, a vertical takeoff and landing drone already deployed by multiple branches of the US military, and is developing the X-BAT, a more advanced combat aircraft designed to operate as part of autonomous swarms. In September 2026, Shield AI signed a letter of intent with Polish defense firms PGZ and WZL-2 to explore development and licensing deals for the X-BAT platform.
Shield AI has also struck a licensing agreement with L3Harris for counter-UAS software solutions. That deal effectively turns L3Harris into a distribution channel for Shield AI’s technology, giving the startup access to programs and customers it might not reach on its own.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·