Shield AI

Defense Tech · Autonomy · Radar/Counter-Drone

Funding

Shield AI raises $2.5B at $28.8B valuation to fund radar acquisition

The all-in-one deal extends Shield's autonomy platform into counter-drone defense for stadiums, borders, and civilian infrastructure.

• Shield AI raised $2.5 billion, including a $1 billion Series H co-led by Disruptive and Innovation X Capital at a $28.8 billion post-money valuation, to help fund its $5.3 billion acquisition of radar maker Echodyne.
• Shield AI builds Hivemind autonomy software and the V-BAT and X-BAT drones; Echodyne makes metamaterials-based radars for counter-drone systems used in over 40 countries.
• Beyond the $1B Series H, the $2.5B financing includes $1 billion in structured equity from Blackstone-managed funds and $500 million in debt arranged by JPMorgan Chase.
• Of the $5.3B Echodyne deal, $4.8 billion is paid at closing while up to $500 million more is contingent on Echodyne hitting performance targets; close is expected in early 2027.
• Shield AI's valuation has risen 127% in eight months, from $12.7 billion in March's Series G to $28.8 billion now, with total equity raised reaching $5.4 billion.
• Echodyne's radars already carry a $250 million-ceiling Army contract for counter-drone systems, and CEO Gary Steele says the deal pushes Shield into dual-use markets like stadium and event security beyond military customers.
• The deal shows defense-tech valuations climbing fast as startups bundle acquisitions with mega-rounds to build vertically integrated platforms, mirroring rival Anduril's roughly $90 billion valuation.