RTX and Shield AI partner to develop new defense capabilities

A significant collaboration poised to redefine the landscape of modern warfare was announced today, as top aerospace and defense company RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) confirmed a strategic partnership with Shield AI, a prominent developer of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. This alliance aims to integrate Shield AI’s advanced AI capabilities into select RTX defense products, promising enhanced mission autonomy for US and allied defense forces.

At the heart of this partnership is the integration of Shield AI’s “Hivemind” autonomy software into RTX’s defense systems, including loitering munitions and sensors. This innovative move is expected to yield the first operational weapon powered by Networked Collaborative Autonomy (NCA). NCA represents a transformative technology that seamlessly fuses real-time coordination, resilience, and combat-proven firepower, delivering a significant competitive advantage to warfighters.

Chris Calio, RTX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the growing importance of AI and autonomy in bolstering product performance. “In partnership with Shield AI, we will deliver critical new solutions that will create a competitive advantage for our customers,” Calio stated.

Gary Steele, CEO of Shield AI, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the collaboration exemplifies the evolving defense ecosystem. “RTX’s defense systems paired with Hivemind, which delivers mission autonomy for intelligent, collaborative operations, create powerful new capabilities for the warfighter,” said Steele. “This collaboration reflects how the defense ecosystem is evolving , bringing the best of autonomy and hardware to bear on national security challenges.”

Beyond loitering munitions, the partnership will also see Shield AI’s Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) software integrated with RTX’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS). This integration will enable automated, AI-based sensor autonomy specifically designed to counter maritime and airborne swarm targets, with a clear focus on rapid productization for existing MTS customers.

Crucially, this initiative is fully funded by both companies, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing autonomous defense systems without immediate reliance on government investment. Both RTX and Shield AI underscored their shared commitment to responsible development, aligning with Department of Defense principles to ensure that these autonomous systems are reliable, traceable, and governable, while maintaining the highest standards of security and effectiveness.

This strategic partnership signifies a pivotal step towards a future where intelligent, collaborative autonomous systems play an increasingly vital role in national security, promising to enhance operational efficiency and protect service members with advanced, self-governing capabilities.