Shield AI and Airbus Defence and Space have announced the successful execution of an autonomous mission with the DT25 target drone, integrating Shield AI’s Hivemind software.

According to the statement, the test was conducted in Andøya, Norway, where the DT25 carried out an autonomous pursuit of a live aircraft in both favorable and degraded operating environments. The trial highlighted how the drone could detect, follow, and respond to airborne threats without requiring remote control.

Shield AI explained that it took three months to integrate Hivemind with the DT25 platform, ensuring the system could operate even when GPS and communication signals were denied.

Nathan Michael, Shield AI’s Chief Technology Officer and head of its Hivemind business unit, mentioned that the collaboration demonstrates how combining autonomy software with Airbus’s drone technology can unlock new defense capabilities. He emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering solutions that are adaptable across platforms.

Thomas Grohs, who leads Airbus Defence and Space’s unmanned aerial systems programs, added that autonomous functions will be essential for future missions. He noted that integrating Shield AI’s software into Airbus drones provides important opportunities for defense customers.

The partnership extends beyond the DT25 project. Both companies are also working together on applying Hivemind to Airbus’s MQ-72C Logistics Connector, an unmanned helicopter derived from the UH-72 Lakota.

Shield AI, founded in 2015, develops autonomy software and aircraft designed to support military operations in contested environments. Its Hivemind software is already in use on platforms such as quadcopters, the F-16, and the V-BAT aircraft.