Shield AI
Self-driving F-16 jets and autonomous quadcopter swarms for the Pentagon
Defense
📍 San Diego, CA
Founded 2015
Current Valuation
$5.3B
as of 2025-Q1
UNICORN
Shield AI's Hivemind software pilots aircraft and drones autonomously without GPS or comms. Most famously demonstrated on a real F-16 fighter jet in 2024. Heavy contracts with the US Air Force, Marine Corps, and allies.
Company Profile
Last Round
Series F — $240M (Mar 2025) · Lead: L3Harris
IPO Status
no imminent plans
Founders & Key People
Brandon TsengRyan Tseng
Investors
L3Harris · Hanwha · Riot Ventures · Andreessen Horowitz · U.S. Innovative Technology Fund
Products
- Hivemind (autonomy stack)
- Nova quadcopter
- V-BAT VTOL UAS
Competitors
Anduril · Skydio · Palantir (PLTR)
DefenseAutonomy
Private-company numbers are not real-time. Reflects publicly disclosed valuations from press releases, news reports, and tender offers as of 2025-Q1. Refreshed quarterly.