As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to proliferate, AI-based unmanned airborne military solutions are the next logical step, courtesy of technology companies Booz Allen Hamilton and Shield AI, which will create these solutions, initially for the U.S. government.
Indeed, Booz Allen will provide its cyber, and deep mission engineering expertise, while Shield AI will offer its Hivemind Enterprise software, and they have partnered to build solutions for the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a press release published on March 18.
Together, they will step up the development of advanced AI control systems and autonomy, as well as their integration into a wide array of unmanned military systems, facilitating rapid deployment and giving the U.S. military essential decision advantage.
Runway towards AI aircraft
Specifically, Shield AI’s Hivemind platform can operate autonomous vehicles spanning from one-way attack drones to F-16 aircraft, and support swarming operations in complex, dynamic operational settings – even in conditions of jammed GPS and communications – expanding their usability to other high-priority missions.
Commenting on the development, Steve Escaravage, the president of Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Group, explained that:
“Our adversaries are evolving faster than ever, and Booz Allen is building, scaling and investing in autonomous systems to redefine how America fights and wins. (…) Shield AI is pioneering AI-powered autonomy, and this partnership catalyzes the capabilities of both teams to support our nation’s no-fail missions.”
On Shield AI’s side, its co-founder and a former U.S. Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng, said that the “best technology is useless unless it can be quickly and seamlessly deployed in real-life, high-stakes environments,” which is why his company decided to partner with Booz Allen, praising the firm for its tech expertise, speed, and understanding of warfighters’ needs.
Escaravage’s colleague at Booz Allen, the company’s CFO Matt Calderone, also said the partnership aligned with Booz Allen’s “long-term commitment to using advanced technology to deliver faster, better outcomes for our nation.”
Meanwhile, in addition to AI aircraft, more intelligent warships might be the next big thing deployed by the U.S. army, as Austin-based startup Saronic has recently raised another $600 million towards building its autonomous shipbuilding factory called ‘Port Alpha,’ increasing its valuation to a whopping $4 billion.
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