Shield AI has expanded its collaboration with Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to co-develop and deploy artificial intelligence across a broader range of unmanned aircraft systems. The enhanced partnership, announced at the Singapore Airshow 2026, centres on Shield AI’s Hivemind software development kit (SDK), which enables autonomous flight and mission execution without human intervention or GPS.
Building on initial trials, the expanded effort aims to embed autonomous capabilities into multiple drone platforms. Using the SDK, RSAF and DSTA engineers can now independently design, test and field mission-specific autonomy tailored to Singapore’s operational concepts. Within six months, operator and developer feedback has already driven refinements to the Hivemind SDK, strengthening local capacity to deploy adaptive systems that navigate no-fly zones, avoid threats and respond dynamically to changing conditions.
Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s president and co-founder, described the partnership as a milestone in sovereign defence technology. “Through their adoption of the Hivemind platform, Singapore is on track to become the first country outside the United States with true sovereign autonomy—the ability to develop and field its own AI pilots across its platforms,” he said. He added that autonomy offers a strategic hedge against demographic decline, a challenge faced by Singapore and many other nations.
DSTA chief executive Ng Chad-Son emphasised that the collaboration extends beyond technology acquisition. “Building our capability to independently develop and field mission autonomy is a priority and an important step forward,” he said. “This allows our defence engineers and aircrew to gain hands-on experience, cultivating a sustainable pipeline of AI specialists with deep operational understanding. We will continue to integrate autonomy across a wider spectrum of RSAF applications, ensuring our unmanned systems remain agile and mission-ready.”
The agreement was unveiled during the Singapore Airshow 2026, where Tseng participated in a panel discussion on autonomy and human-machine teaming. Tom Schaefer, vice president of Hivemind engineering at Shield AI, also addressed the Singapore Aerospace Technology and Engineering Conference, speaking on software-driven autonomy for next-generation defence platforms.
The partnership signals a strategic shift toward self-reliant, software-defined defence ecosystems. By equipping local teams with the tools to develop, refine and operationalise AI, Singapore is positioning itself at the forefront of military robotics—able to rapidly adapt unmanned systems to emerging threats without reliance on external vendors. The initiative also underscores a broader regional interest in scalable, intelligent platforms that enhance deterrence while optimising manpower.
