Overview
- Shield AI said its Hivemind autonomy software coordinated two Anduril-built FQ-44As in formation and beyond-visual-range air combat maneuvers during a test on October 26th at the Nevada Test and Training Range.
- The pair operated under high-level commands from a ground operator rather than a human pilot in the air, with Hivemind translating those mission commands into coordinated tactical actions.
- The October 26th flight follows an October 8th demonstration in which an F-22 pilot in flight issued high-level directions to a single FQ-44 using the same autonomy software.
- Program participants plan to expand to larger 'teams of teams,' add more assets to live flights, and eventually test CCAs carrying and employing live munitions, though no firm timelines were given.
- If scaled, the capability could change how pilots manage force size by shifting work from low-level control to mission-level direction, but it will require clearer cockpit interfaces, proven trust in autonomy, and safeguards for data links and detectability.