At the core of the partnership is Shield AI’s Hivemind system, which will be incorporated into RTX platforms to deliver the first operational weapon powered by Networked Collaborative Autonomy (NCA). This next-generation technology enables real-time coordination, operational resilience, and proven firepower in combat environments.
The joint work is fully industry-funded, requiring no government investment. “AI and autonomy continue to enhance the performance of our products,” said RTX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Calio.
“In partnership with Shield AI, we will deliver critical new solutions that will create a competitive advantage for our customers,” Calio added. The integration of Hivemind is expected to provide intelligent, collaborative operational autonomy across RTX’s defence offerings.
“RTX’s defence systems paired with Hivemind, which delivers mission autonomy for intelligent, collaborative operations, create powerful new capabilities for the warfighter,” said Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI. “This collaboration reflects how the defence ecosystem is evolving — bringing the best of autonomy and hardware to bear on national security challenges.”
The partnership also includes plans to integrate Shield AI’s Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) software with RTX’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS). This combination aims to deliver automated, AI-based sensor autonomy to detect maritime and airborne swarm threats, with rapid deployment for current MTS customers.
RTX and Shield AI emphasised that the initiative aligns with US Department of Defense (DoD) principles by ensuring autonomous systems are reliable, traceable, and governable. Both companies reaffirmed their commitment to responsible innovation, security, and operational effectiveness in advancing autonomous defence technologies.
