Shield AI's $500 Million round for AI Fighter Jets and Smart Military Drones

Just how much AI can you put into a drone or fighter jet?

Hey Everyone,

Not much was made at the time of Shield AI’s new funding raise. However National Defense at the intersection of AI is a big deal amid geopolitical tensions.

Shield AI is an artificial intelligence company that aims to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Ther Series F (extended) round was completed on October 31st, 2023.

Shield AI has raised $200 million in new funding (a further $300 million was later added) as it looks to scale its autonomous flying systems for the U.S. military and its allies. It’s one of the best funded AI related defense startups of its kind.

• It raised its valuation to $2.8B with additional capital in Series F funding, which now stands at an impressive $500M.

• The startup makes hardware and software to transform drones and aircraft into autonomous systems capable of executing missions in contested environments. The company’s core product is Hivemind, an AI pilot software that enables drones and aircraft to operate autonomously — without even GPS to assist them.

Based in San Diego, Shield AI, the defense technology company building the world’s best AI pilot for aircraft has gotten a lot of funding since the Ukraine invasion started.