Shield AI advances combat drone autonomy in second MQ-20 Avenger test

This event follows a previous integration during the Orange Flag exercise in February, where the focus was on basic operations using a command-line interface. In contrast, the latest demonstration showcased tactical capabilities, including formation flying and combat air patrols, using A-GRA-compliant mission planning tools.

“Readiness means flying today, not waiting for perfect conditions,” said Christian Gutierrez, Vice President of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI. “Autonomy doesn’t get better in a lab or inside a PowerPoint. It improves when it flies, when it fails, adapts, and flies again.”

Shield AI stated that real-world testing in complex environments is key to accelerating the deployment of scalable autonomous systems. “This demonstration reflects the hard work of our engineering teams who continue to push software into real-world scenarios to accelerate learning and performance,” added Gutierrez.

The June test demonstrated several operational capabilities of Hivemind. These included synchronised control of live and virtual aircraft, seamless integration with command and control systems, and platform-agnostic design through an open, modular architecture.

“This event reflects the kind of interoperability and adaptability we believe is essential for future autonomy efforts,” said Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. “Being able to rapidly integrate and test autonomy elements from multiple vendors helps ensure the most effective capabilities are available to the warfighter, regardless of origin.”

Hivemind is designed for unmanned operations in GPS- and communications-denied environments. It supports modular integration and cross-platform deployment, offering flexible and tactically relevant mission autonomy.