PARIS — Shield AI and Spain’s UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía have signed a strategic integration partnership to expand Shield AI Hivemind autonomy across European unmanned aircraft systems.
The agreement was announced during Eurosatory 2026 in Paris. It links Shield AI Hivemind software with UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía guidance, navigation and control systems. As a result, European customers can add advanced autonomy to existing aircraft with lower integration risk.
The collaboration focuses on interoperability between Shield AI Hivemind and UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía’s VECTOR autopilots and Mission Control Computer. The companies have already completed joint testing. The results confirmed that Hivemind can execute missions on platforms that use UAV Navigation flight-control systems.
Shield AI Hivemind Integration for European UAV Platforms
The next phase will extend the autonomy envelope across more unmanned aircraft families. Therefore, the partnership gives European operators a practical route to upgrade current UAV fleets. It also reduces the need for a full aircraft redesign.
Shield AI Hivemind is modular autonomy software. It enables unmanned systems to sense, decide and act in complex environments. In contrast to conventional autopilot systems, Hivemind can adapt mission plans, avoid obstacles and respond to unexpected conditions.
“European customers require autonomous systems that meet rigorous standards for reliability, integration, and operational performance,” said Chris Brinkley, Vice President and Head of Europe and Africa at Shield AI.
VECTOR Autopilots and Open-Architecture Autonomy
UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía specializes in guidance, navigation and control solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles. Its systems support a wide range of UAV, RPAS and drone platforms. Moreover, its open-architecture ecosystem allows operators to add new capabilities without replacing the full aircraft stack.
The partnership combines Shield AI’s mission autonomy with UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía’s flight-control expertise. For European defence customers, this creates a faster path from software integration to operational deployment.
“Shield AI Hivemind brings proven mission autonomy that complements our open-architecture ecosystem,” said Luis Furnells, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Oesía.
Why Shield AI Hivemind Matters for Europe
European defence customers are increasing investment in autonomous systems. They want UAVs that can deploy quickly, operate with greater resilience and reduce operator workload. Consequently, autonomy software has become a core capability for future unmanned aircraft programs.
By validating Shield AI Hivemind with UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía systems, the companies can address this demand with a platform-focused integration model. The approach may support both current UAV fleets and future European unmanned aircraft programs.
The agreement also strengthens U.S.–European cooperation in defence technology. In addition, it supports a wider market trend toward modular autonomy, open avionics and rapid software-defined capability upgrades.
For more coverage of autonomous systems, read Defence Agenda’s unmanned systems and defence technology sections. You can also follow recent European land-systems cooperation in our report on FNSS and CSG Defence’s Danube Defence Systems joint venture.
Shield AI is exhibiting at Eurosatory 2026 in Hall 5A, stand A276. UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía is exhibiting in Hall 6, stand G220.
