Hanwha Aerospace, L3Harris anchor Shield AI’s $240 mn funding

The investment is expected to accelerate Hanwha’s expansion into the unmanned  aircraft sector

Shield AI, founded in 2015, is an autonomy software and defense aircraft technology company (Screenshot captured from Shield AI website)
Shield AI, founded in 2015, is an autonomy software and defense aircraft technology company (Screenshot captured from Shield AI website)
Yeonhee Kim 1
2025-03-07 14:35:52 yhkim@hankyung.com
Aerospace & Defense

South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace Co. and US weapons systems developer L3Harris Technologies Inc. have led a $240 million funding round for Shield AI, a San Diego-based startup specializing in autonomous systems and defense aircraft technology.

Shield AI announced on Thursday it has completed the fundraising at a valuation of $5.3 billion.

Hanwha Aerospace and L3Harris participated as strategic investors, alongside Shield AI’s existing financial backers, including Andreessen Horowitz, US Innovative Technology and Washington Harbour Partners.

“The funds will enable Shield AI to expand the deployment of Hivemind Enterprise to OEMs, governments and companies, empowering the broader robotics and drone industrial base to develop autonomy products,” Shield AI said in the press release.

(Screenshot captured from Shield AI website)
(Screenshot captured from Shield AI website)

Hivemind Enterprise refers to Shield AI’s autonomy software suite designed for developers and organizations to build, test, evaluate and deploy intelligent autonomous systems.

“The same tools that make up Hivemind Enterprise have already enabled Shield AI to autonomously fly F-16s, MQ-20s . . . and have quadcopters explore buildings and tunnels for US and Israeli forces,” the company added.

The investment is expected to support Hanwha Aerospace’s expansion into the unmanned  military aircraft sector. In 2024, Hanwha Group established a dedicated task force to develop military drones and autonomous aircraft

Industrial observers say Shield AI’s software could be integrated into Hanwha’s future unmanned aircraft platforms.

Write to Yeonhee Kim at yhkim@hankyung.com
Joel Levin edited this article.

Hanwha Aerospace ups stake in Hanwha Ocean in $900 mn block deal

Hanwha Aerospace ups stake in Hanwha Ocean in $900 mn block deal

Hanwha Ocean's dockyard in Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province Hanwha Aerospace Co. will acquire an additional 1.3 trillion won ($900 million) worth of shares in Hanwha Ocean Co. from its sister companies through a block deal in March.The transaction is expected to tighten Hanwha Group Vice

Hanwha Aerospace nears $276 million K9 howitzer deal with Vietnam

Hanwha Aerospace nears $276 million K9 howitzer deal with Vietnam

Hanwha Aerospace unveils the latest model of its K9 self-propelled howitzer, the K9A2, on Sept. 12, 2023 South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Co. is close to signing a 400 billion won ($276 million) deal to export as many as 30 units of the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to Vietnam, indust

Leonardo's Coulter named Hanwha Aerospace’s 1st foreign global chief

Leonardo's Coulter named Hanwha Aerospace’s 1st foreign global chief

Michael Coulter, former Leonardo DRS International president, now heads Hanwha Aerospace’s global defense business (Courtesy of Leonardo DRS) Hanwha Aerospace Co., a leading South Korean defense company, said on Monday it has hired Michael Coulter, a former senior executive at US-based It

Hanwha teams up with Australian startup for space business

Hanwha teams up with Australian startup for space business

Artist's illustration of Gilmour Space’s new hypersonic flight test service (File photo captured from Gilmour Space’s website) South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Co. has joined hands with Australian startup Gilmour Space Technologies in the space business, bolstering cooperation b

Hanwha Aerospace to spin off non-core units for defense sector

Hanwha Aerospace to spin off non-core units for defense sector

Prototype of Hanwha Aerospace’s advanced aero engine (File photo by Hanwha Aerospace) Hanwha Aerospace Co., South Korea’s answer to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has decided to separate its non-core units to concentrate on the defense and aerospace businesses – key growth drivers

Hanwha Systems signs $867 million missile radar deal with Saudi Arabia

Hanwha Systems signs $867 million missile radar deal with Saudi Arabia

Hanwha Systems' multi-function radar (MFR) system used in Cheongung II missiles Hanwha Systems Co., a leading South Korean defense company, said on Tuesday it has clinched a $867 million deal to supply its advanced mobile multi-function radar (MFR) system to Saudi Arabia.The deal is part of a l

Hanwha Aerospace to export $938mn K9 howitzer to Romania

Hanwha Aerospace to export $938mn K9 howitzer to Romania

Hanwha Aerospace Co., South Korea’s major aerospace and defense system developer, signed a 1.3 trillion won ($938 million) contract to supply its K9 self-propelled howitzers to Romania, the company said on Wednesday. Hanwha Aerospace will deliver 54 units of its K9 howitzers and 36

Hanwha Aerospace, Poland sign $1.6 billion Chunmoo rocket launcher deal

Hanwha Aerospace, Poland sign $1.6 billion Chunmoo rocket launcher deal

Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il (left) and Artur Kuptel, head of the Polish State Armament Agency, sign a $1.6 billion Chunmoo rocket launcher deal on April 25, 2024 Hanwha Aerospace Co., a leading South Korean defense company, on Thursday signed a $1.64 billion deal to supply 72 units of Chunm

Hanwha Aerospace to unveil self-propelled howitzer K9A2 in UK

Hanwha Aerospace to unveil self-propelled howitzer K9A2 in UK

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace Co. announced on Tuesday that it will unveil the latest model of its K9 self-propelled howitzer, the K9A2, at the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade show in London from Sept. 12 to 15.Hanwha Aerospace will showcase the K9A2 as part of a sel

Hanwha Group gears up for foray into aviation industry

Hanwha Group gears up for foray into aviation industry

Fly Gangwon has ceased all operations since May 20, 2023 South Korea’s chemicals-to-defense conglomerate Hanwha Group is preparing a bid for domestic low-cost carrier (LCC) Fly Gangwon under court protection, a move seen as a first step in its aim to become a full-fledged defense company

(* comment hide *}