Thunder Tiger Partners with US Defense Tech Firm Shield AI to Integrate Autonomous Driving Systems into Sea Shark Unmanned Vessel
Drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with US defense technology unicorn Shield AI. The partnership will integrate Shield AI's Hivemind autonomous software into Thunder Tiger's unmanned system product portfolio, with the Sea Shark unmanned vessel being the first platform to receive the integration. Field demonstrations are planned for this summer.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 11:28
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 11:31 (3 min after Published)
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Thunder Tiger Corporation, a drone manufacturer, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shield AI, a US defense technology unicorn. The partnership will integrate Shield AI's Hivemind autonomous software into Thunder Tiger's unmanned system product portfolio, with the first implementation on Thunder Tiger's Sea Shark unmanned vessel platform.
Thunder Tiger explained that Hivemind will serve as the core AI autonomous driving system for the Sea Shark unmanned vessel platform. Field demonstrations are expected this summer to showcase how the autonomous technology can assist Taiwan's maritime unmanned systems in navigating, responding, and performing mission operations in real sea environments.
Brandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI and former US Navy SEAL, stated that Hivemind has been integrated and validated on dozens of different platforms and in various operational domains globally. He added that this technology, in collaboration with Thunder Tiger in Taiwan and integrated into the Sea Shark unmanned vessel, will further enable cross-domain, multi-vehicle collaborative operational capabilities, redefining the use of unmanned systems in high-threat environments.
Tseng pointed out that the collaboration between Shield AI and Thunder Tiger will assist Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense in building autonomous systems with asymmetric warfare capabilities to deter conflict and enhance deterrence. This is an important part of Shield AI's support for Taiwan's overall strategic layout.
According to the cooperation plan, Shield AI and Thunder Tiger will proceed with integration and verification in phases. The process will include rigorous validation through simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop integration, and live vehicle testing. The goal is to verify how multiple autonomous systems can operate collaboratively across Thunder Tiger's different platforms, forming an intelligent unmanned system group with multi-system collaborative operational capabilities.
Su Sheng-chieh, Director and General Manager of Thunder Tiger Corporation, stated that Thunder Tiger has long been committed to developing unmanned system products that meet real combat needs, covering applications such as coastal defense and multi-domain missions. By integrating Hivemind, Thunder Tiger's unmanned vehicle platforms will possess higher-level autonomous decision-making capabilities, enabling them to independently execute complex missions and form collaborative operational teams with other vehicles. This collaboration will help strengthen Taiwan's defense industry's self-reliance and provide the military with more advanced and intelligent unmanned system solutions.
Furthermore, Hivemind is Shield AI's core artificial intelligence autonomous software, enabling various unmanned vehicle systems in different domains to possess "Sense, Decide, Act" capabilities. Through integration with Thunder Tiger's aerial and maritime platforms, including the Sea Shark unmanned vessel, collaborative operations and intelligent mission execution for hybrid unmanned fleets can be further realized.
Thunder Tiger noted that this collaboration builds upon Shield AI's existing partnerships and projects in Taiwan, continuing to promote the development of AI autonomous driving unmanned systems and collaborative operational capabilities. This reflects Shield AI's ongoing deepening of its presence in Taiwan, including establishing an office at Taipei 101, and working hand-in-hand with local Taiwanese industries to jointly promote the research, development, deployment, and long-term maintenance of Taiwan's autonomous defense capabilities. (Editor: Chang Liang-chih) 1150513
Thunder Tiger explained that Hivemind will serve as the core AI autonomous driving system for the Sea Shark unmanned vessel platform. Field demonstrations are expected this summer to showcase how the autonomous technology can assist Taiwan's maritime unmanned systems in navigating, responding, and performing mission operations in real sea environments.
Brandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI and former US Navy SEAL, stated that Hivemind has been integrated and validated on dozens of different platforms and in various operational domains globally. He added that this technology, in collaboration with Thunder Tiger in Taiwan and integrated into the Sea Shark unmanned vessel, will further enable cross-domain, multi-vehicle collaborative operational capabilities, redefining the use of unmanned systems in high-threat environments.
Tseng pointed out that the collaboration between Shield AI and Thunder Tiger will assist Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense in building autonomous systems with asymmetric warfare capabilities to deter conflict and enhance deterrence. This is an important part of Shield AI's support for Taiwan's overall strategic layout.
According to the cooperation plan, Shield AI and Thunder Tiger will proceed with integration and verification in phases. The process will include rigorous validation through simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop integration, and live vehicle testing. The goal is to verify how multiple autonomous systems can operate collaboratively across Thunder Tiger's different platforms, forming an intelligent unmanned system group with multi-system collaborative operational capabilities.
Su Sheng-chieh, Director and General Manager of Thunder Tiger Corporation, stated that Thunder Tiger has long been committed to developing unmanned system products that meet real combat needs, covering applications such as coastal defense and multi-domain missions. By integrating Hivemind, Thunder Tiger's unmanned vehicle platforms will possess higher-level autonomous decision-making capabilities, enabling them to independently execute complex missions and form collaborative operational teams with other vehicles. This collaboration will help strengthen Taiwan's defense industry's self-reliance and provide the military with more advanced and intelligent unmanned system solutions.
Furthermore, Hivemind is Shield AI's core artificial intelligence autonomous software, enabling various unmanned vehicle systems in different domains to possess "Sense, Decide, Act" capabilities. Through integration with Thunder Tiger's aerial and maritime platforms, including the Sea Shark unmanned vessel, collaborative operations and intelligent mission execution for hybrid unmanned fleets can be further realized.
Thunder Tiger noted that this collaboration builds upon Shield AI's existing partnerships and projects in Taiwan, continuing to promote the development of AI autonomous driving unmanned systems and collaborative operational capabilities. This reflects Shield AI's ongoing deepening of its presence in Taiwan, including establishing an office at Taipei 101, and working hand-in-hand with local Taiwanese industries to jointly promote the research, development, deployment, and long-term maintenance of Taiwan's autonomous defense capabilities. (Editor: Chang Liang-chih) 1150513
FAQ
What is the main purpose of the partnership between Thunder Tiger and Shield AI?
The partnership aims to integrate Shield AI's Hivemind autonomous software into Thunder Tiger's unmanned system products, enhancing Taiwan's defense capabilities, building asymmetric warfare capabilities, and improving the collaborative operational capacity of unmanned systems.
Which Thunder Tiger platform will be the first to integrate Hivemind?
The Sea Shark unmanned vessel platform will be the first to integrate Shield AI's Hivemind software.
When are the field demonstrations for the Sea Shark unmanned vessel expected?
Field demonstrations are expected to take place in the summer.
What is Hivemind?
Hivemind is Shield AI's core artificial intelligence autonomous software that enables unmanned vehicle systems to 'Sense, Decide, Act' in various domains.
What are the planned stages for the integration and verification process?
The integration and verification process will be conducted in phases, including simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop integration, and live vehicle testing.