MHI, Shield AI partner to test UAV autonomy
The first flight demonstration of MHI's ARMD UAV integrated with Shield AI's Hivemind software, conducted in November 2025 in Japan. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and US-based Shield AI have collaborated to integrate and test the latter's artificial intelligence (AI)- based software on an MHI unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype.
MHI announced on 17 March that it conducted flight demonstrations of its Affordable Rapid-prototyping Mitsubishi-Drone initiative (ARMD) UAV integrated with Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise, also known as the Hivemind Software Development Kit (SDK).
The demonstrations evaluated âAI-powered mission autonomyâ for UAVs provided by Hivemind Enterprise, MHI said. The company added that the development of mission autonomy applications for these flight demonstrations commenced in September 2025.
Two flight demonstrations were conducted employing separate ARMD units. The first was held in November 2025 at a test field in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture and the second demonstration was held in December at a test field in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, MHI said.
MHI added that the ARMD UAVs served as flight testbeds carrying various AI systems. Janes analysis of ARMD images published by MHI shows that the fixed-wing UAV features a slender fuselage that supports midâmounted tapered wings. The UAV also features a Vâtail configuration and fixed tricycle landingâgear arrangement. ARMD is powered by a twinâcylinder internal combustion engine. The fuselage also incorporates a ventrally mounted communication antenna located in the forward belly section.
According to company specifications, the ARMD UAV has an overall length of 2.5 m, a wingspan of 2.5 m, and a take-off weight of 20 kg.
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