Airbus and Shield AI have signed an agreement to integrate autonomous pilot technology into the MQ-72C Logistics Connector unmanned aerial system.
The teaming includes compatibility trials of Shield AI’s flagship artificial intelligence software “Hivemind” with Airbus’ Helionix advanced avionics suite to operate the MQ-72C.
The evaluation will focus on levels of autonomy to deploy the aircraft with minimal human intervention, with the tests to include complex unmanned operations in contested logistics settings.
Airbus’ MQ-72C, a rotary-wing drone, is based on the company’s UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter currently operational in the US Army and National Guard.
“The Lakota is a proven multi-mission platform that is ready to support unmanned operations in austere environments,” Airbus US Space & Defense’s Robert Geckle stated.
“Pairing our aircraft with next-generation autonomy software opens new mission possibilities for the warfighter and allied forces worldwide.”
Key for ‘Future Flight’
The consortium noted that the partnership will proceed over “several years” to support autonomous flight initiatives of the US Marine Corps and the broader Joint Force.
In October 2024, Airbus completed the initial trials of the MQ-72 system under a marine program seeking an unmanned airborne logistics solution for expeditionary tasks.
Shield AI’s Hivemind is also being tested in separate military efforts and by other aerospace industry partners.
The software is installed across the firm’s proprietary drones, including the V-BAT unmanned aerial systems ordered by the US Coast Guard last year.
“The Lakota has been a mainstay of military aviation for years—a widely-fielded, trusted platform used across a range of missions,” Shield AI CEO Ryan Tseng commented.
“Integrating Hivemind onto this aircraft shows how autonomy can rapidly enhance proven systems to meet the demands of today’s missions, and it’s a key step toward fully autonomous, uncrewed logistics operations that are scalable, resilient, and built for the future fight.”
