The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering selected Shield AI to integrate its Hivemind autonomy software into the LUCAS program, a new class of low-cost, one-way attack drones designed for mass deployment.

Hivemind will act as an “AI pilot,” allowing groups of drones to coordinate, adapt, and operate together in real time under the control of a single operator. The goal is to enable large-scale drone swarms that can overwhelm enemy defenses while keeping humans focused on overall mission decisions.

The system is designed for “collaborative autonomy,” where drones independently handle navigation and coordination, dynamically adjust to battlefield conditions, and execute missions even in environments with limited communications. A demonstration is planned for later this year.

Shield AI also notes that Hivemind is already being used across multiple US and allied defense platforms, highlighting its growing role in autonomous and networked warfare systems.