Shield AI raises $1.5 billion in Series G, boosts valuation to $12.7 billion after Air Force contract

Shield AI, a company developing autonomous military aircraft, has raised $1.5 billion in Series G funding, leading to a significant increase in its valuation from $5.3 billion to $12.7 billion, a 140% rise in just one year. The funding round was led by Advent, a private equity firm, alongside a JPMorganChase investment group. In addition, Shield AI sold $500 million in preferred shares to Blackstone-managed funds and secured a $250 million loan. The capital will be used to acquire Aechelon Technology, a maker of flight simulation technology used by the U.S. military. Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program, which will include a joint project with defense tech competitor Anduril. Anduril’s Fury autonomous fighter jet will use its Lattice software, but the Air Force aims to avoid vendor lock-in by using multiple tech solutions for its fleet. This news follows a 2025 fundraising round in which Shield raised $240 million at a $5.3 billion valuation. With this boost, the company continues to expand its influence in the defense technology space.