The agreement centres on integrating Shield AI’s Hivemind AI software with Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite to enable autonomous operation of the MQ-72C, a rotary-wing drone based on the proven UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter. Currently deployed by the US Army and National Guard, the Lakota platform is being adapted for minimal human intervention missions in contested and austere environments.

“The Lakota is a proven multi-mission platform that is ready to support unmanned operations in austere environments,” said Robert Geckle, CEO of Airbus US Space & Defense. “Pairing our aircraft with next-generation autonomy software opens new mission possibilities for the warfighter and allied forces worldwide.”

The initiative will unfold over several years and is designed to support the autonomous logistics objectives of the US Marine Corps and the broader Joint Force. Initial MQ-72 trials, completed in October 2024, validated the system under a Marine Corps programme for uncrewed expeditionary logistics. The next phase will test more advanced levels of autonomy.

Hivemind, Shield AI’s flagship software, is currently being evaluated across various platforms and by other defence partners, including the V-BAT unmanned aerial systems recently ordered by the US Coast Guard.

“The Lakota has been a mainstay of military aviation for years—a widely-fielded, trusted platform used across a range of missions,” said Ryan Tseng, CEO of Shield AI. “Integrating Hivemind onto this aircraft shows how autonomy can rapidly enhance proven systems to meet the demands of today’s missions. It’s a key step toward fully autonomous, uncrewed logistics operations that are scalable, resilient, and built for the future fight.”

This development signals a significant leap forward in the evolution of AI-driven rotary-wing platforms, blending field-proven airframes with advanced autonomy for next-generation operational capability.