“Shield AI Joins Forces with Kratos to Unleash AI-Driven Piloting on the Valkyrie XQ-58”
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a leading technology enterprise in Defense, National Security, and Global Markets, along with Shield AI, Inc., a defense tech firm creating the world’s most advanced AI pilot, have formalized a collaboration to integrate and introduce an AI pilot developed by Shield AI for Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie, actualizing the concept of crewed-uncrewed collaboration for jet aircraft.
“Ukraine is reportedly losing 10,000 drones each month due to Russian electronic warfare – primarily as the Russians are disrupting communications and GPS. If an uncrewed aircraft cannot function without GPS and communication, it will be nearly ineffective in upcoming conflicts,” shared Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s Co-founder and President, who is also a former Navy SEAL. “AI pilots empower fleets of aircraft to adeptly execute missions without relying on GPS and communication systems. By pairing an exceptional, cost-effective uncrewed jet aircraft like the XQ-58 with our AI pilot, we are establishing a revolutionary strategic deterrent.”
“The Valkyrie represents one of the very few uncrewed jet aircraft currently in operation, increasing in production, and primed for AI pilot integration. Close collaboration with Kratos on the XQ-58 will facilitate the market introduction of intelligent uncrewed jet aircraft on a timeline that, frankly, will astonish many. Ultimately, our AI pilots will operate numerous uncrewed jet aircraft, and I can’t think of a better uncrewed jet to initiate this than the Valkyrie,” mentioned Ryan Tseng, Shield AI’s Co-founder and CEO.
Shield AI has created a combat-ready AI pilot that has been deployed across various platforms, including a quadcopter, their own produced Group 3 unmanned aircraft system known as the V-BAT, and a modified F-16 fighter jet.
Kratos maintains active production lines generating about 150 jet drones annually, including the Valkyrie, as well as a series of economical, expendable, and attritable tactical jet drones currently in service, such as Tactical Firejet, Mako, Valkyrie, and others, with known cost points ranging from approximately $400,000 to $6.5 million alongside multiple contracts with the United States Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and others.
“By leveraging the most cost-effective, established, and currently in-production uncrewed jets, equipped with key performance features, and integrating them with the most intelligent, capable, and proven AI pilots, Kratos and Shield AI are strategically positioned to swiftly introduce the first and leading crewed-uncrewed teaming aircraft to the marketplace,” commented Eric Demarco, CEO of Kratos.
