RTX, Shield AI partnering to develop new defense capabilities

RTX and Shield AI announced a new partnership to integrate Shield AI capabilities into select RTX defense products, like loitering munitions and sensors. This collaboration will deliver enhanced, autonomous capabilities to US and allied defense forces.

RTX will integrate Shield AI's Hivemind to field the first operational weapon powered by Networked Collaborative Autonomy (NCA) – a breakthrough technology that fuses real-time coordination, resilience and, combat-proven firepower. This work will be fully funded by the companies, without the need for government investment.

“AI and autonomy continue to enhance the performance of our products,” says RTX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Calio. “In partnership with Shield AI, we will deliver critical new solutions that will create a competitive advantage for our customers.”

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

Shield AI will also integrate its Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) software with RTX's Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) to enable automated AI-based sensor autonomy against maritime and airborne swarm targets, with a focus on rapid productization for current MTS customers.

This partnership underscores RTX and Shield AI's shared commitment to advance the future of autonomous defense systems responsibly — aligning with DOD principles by ensuring systems are reliable, traceable and governable, while upholding the highest standards of security and effectiveness.