Hanwha Aerospace is spearheading a $240 million investment round in Shield AI, a U.S. startup specializing in artificial intelligence for autonomous defense systems. The March 6 funding, which also included U.S. defense contractor L3 Harris and existing investors like Andreessen Horowitz, values Shield AI at $5.3 billion.
The strategic investment accelerates Hanwha’s expansion into the drone and unmanned aerial vehicle sector, following the South Korean defense firm’s establishment of a dedicated military drone business task force last year.
This move represents Hanwha’s latest in a series of calculated steps to secure its position in autonomous defense technology. In January, the company formed a partnership with AI aviation tech firm Sumbi to develop specialized reconnaissance drones. This followed Hanwha’s 22.5 billion won ($16.4 million) equity investment in U.S. drone manufacturer Fortem Technologies in 2023.
Shield AI’s Hivemind Enterprise platform provides autonomous flight capabilities for unmanned vehicles operating in environments too dangerous for human control. Industry observers note that Hanwha may integrate this technology into its future unmanned systems as part of its strategy to strengthen its global defense market presence.
The investment underscores Hanwha Aerospace’s commitment to building technological capabilities in next-generation defense systems through strategic international partnerships.
