In a significant move to bolster national security through artificial intelligence, technology giant RTX and defense AI specialist Shield AI have entered into a new collaborative agreement. The partnership, detailed in a recent announcement, will focus on integrating Shield AI’s cutting-edge autonomous capabilities into a selection of RTX’s defense systems.

According to the announcement, the collaboration is geared towards delivering enhanced autonomous functionalities to U.S. and allied military forces. A key aspect of this initiative involves embedding Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot into RTX’s offerings, with the aim of creating smarter, more collaborative defense solutions.

The joint effort will also see the integration of Shield AI’s Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) software with RTX’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS). This synergy is expected to enable AI-driven sensor autonomy, a critical development for identifying and tracking airborne and maritime swarm threats.

A notable aspect of this venture, as mentioned in the release, is that it will be entirely funded by the two companies, without reliance on government investment.

Chris Calio, Chairman and CEO of RTX, stated that the partnership will be instrumental in delivering crucial new solutions and creating a competitive edge for their customers. Echoing this sentiment, Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI, mentioned that the combination of RTX’s defense hardware and Shield AI’s Hivemind will unlock powerful new capabilities for warfighters.

The collaboration underscores a shared commitment by both companies to responsibly advance autonomous defense systems. The development will align with Department of Defense principles, ensuring that the new technologies are dependable, traceable, and governable, while upholding the highest standards of security and operational effectiveness.