Shield AI Selected as Mission Autonomy Provider for U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program

Hivemind autonomy software will fly aboard Anduril's Fury (YFQ-44A) aircraft

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Shield AI, a deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and aircraft, has been selected as a mission autonomy provider supporting the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Under the program, Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software has successfully integrated on Anduril's Fury (YFQ-44A) aircraft and is supporting system-level testing in preparation for upcoming flight demonstrations.

Why it matters

The selection of Shield AI as a mission autonomy provider for the CCA program highlights the growing importance of autonomous systems in modern air combat. The Air Force is actively exploring how autonomy can reshape air warfare, and Shield AI's Hivemind software represents a key technology in this effort.

The details

Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software is designed to assume the role of a human pilot or operator, enabling unmanned defense systems to sense, decide, and act without human intervention. Unlike traditional autopilots, Hivemind can reroute around no-fly zones, avoid or engage obstacles, and respond to unexpected conditions to complete missions safely and effectively.

  • On February 13, 2026, Shield AI announced its selection as a mission autonomy provider for the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

The players

Shield AI

A deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program

A program exploring how autonomy can reshape air combat.

Anduril

A company that manufactures the Fury (YFQ-44A) aircraft, which will integrate Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software.

Gary Steele

The CEO of Shield AI.

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What they’re saying

“Shield AI is proud to be named a mission autonomy provider supporting the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The Air Force is moving with urgency to explore how autonomy can reshape air combat, and we have spent years preparing for this—building, testing, and flying mission autonomy in the real world. We will work relentlessly to deliver and to help advance the next era of airpower alongside the Air Force and its industry partners.”

— Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI (PRNewswire)

What’s next

Flight demonstrations of the Anduril Fury (YFQ-44A) aircraft integrated with Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software are expected in the coming months as part of the CCA program's Technology Maturity and Risk Reduction (TMRR) efforts.

The takeaway

The selection of Shield AI as a mission autonomy provider for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program underscores the growing importance of autonomous systems in modern air warfare. Shield AI's Hivemind software represents a key technology that could help reshape the future of air combat operations.