Shield AI
Shield AI develops Hivemind AI-pilot autonomy software and manufactures the V-BAT VTOL UAS for military and border-security customers worldwide.
Background
Shield AI was founded in 2015 in San Diego by brothers Brandon Tseng and Ryan Tseng and Andrew Reiter. Brandon Tseng serves as co-founder and chief executive.
The company grew from an initial focus on building AI pilots for GPS- and communications-denied environments into a dual-track defense technology firm.
The core product is Hivemind, an AI autonomy stack comprising EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge modules. Hivemind has been integrated onto Kratos' XQ-58 Valkyrie autonomous jet and is central to the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program work.
The V-BAT is a ship-launchable, vertical-takeoff tube-launched UAS available in Block A/128 and newer block variants; the company also offers the X-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems wide-area motion imaging software.
Shield AI sells directly to military customers and allied defense ministries, maintains a Kyiv office for Ukraine support operations, and has nine facilities worldwide.
Tata Advanced Systems is constructing a Hyderabad plant for domestic Indian V-BAT manufacturing under a 2026 partnership agreement.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.