Advent International led the Series G, with co-lead support from JPMorgan Chase’s Strategic Investment Group and participation from Snowpoint Ventures and Riot Ventures.

Shield AI is pursuing a strategic acquisition of Aechelon Technology Inc., funded from a portion of its new round, to boost high-fidelity simulation, physics-based sensors, and synthetic reality applications used in military pilot training and autonomous system testing.

The company announced a $2 billion funding round with a $12.7 billion valuation, consisting of $1.5 billion in Series G, $500 million in preferred equity, and a $250 million delayed-draw facility from Blackstone.

Questions linger about whether the lofty valuation reflects revenue trajectories or speculative optimism, even as Shield AI Aggressively pursues combat-proven tech, DoD contracts, and a 2028 X-BAT deployment window.

Longer-term, the growth trajectory targets expansion in autonomous ISR and combat missions, aided by Blackstone’s delayed-draw facility for additional expansion flexibility amid regulatory and competitive considerations.

Shield AI projects over 80% revenue growth for 2026, aiming for at least $540 million in revenue.

The company asserts active deployment of AI-powered drone technology in operations, with activity in nearly every conflict zone, though it has not confirmed drone use in Iran.

The article itself was generated with AI assistance and edited for publication.

Hivemind technology has seen use across platforms, including the Nova quadcopter in the Middle East, the V-BAT reconnaissance drone with extensive sorties in Ukraine since mid-2024, and tests on modified fighter aircraft and other drones.

Shield AI unveiled the X-BAT stealth VTOL drone in late 2025, piloted entirely by Hivemind, with first vertical takeoff planned this year and expected operational deployment by 2028, signaling a push into strike capabilities.

The company plans to expand R&D and strengthen its position in the defense tech sector.

Shield AI’s technology is expected to operate alongside other vendors within the Air Force’s next-gen drone fleet, illustrating a multi-vendor approach that includes Anduril’s Fury autonomous fighter jet.