Booz Allen to Put a Hivemind AI Co-Pilot on PDW Attack Drones in 2027

Performance Drone Works is integrating Booz Allen Hamilton mission-autonomy software powered by Shield AI's Hivemind onto its AM Group 1 attritable multirotor drone. The package entered controlled testing on September 30, 2026, with general availability planned for the first quarter of 2027 and integration onto PDW's C100 expected later that year. AM supports recoverable reconnaissance and payload-delivery missions or expendable strike configurations, with autonomy-assisted perception and operator-authorised effects delivery. PDW will also adopt Booz Allen's secure over-the-air update system across its fleet, providing configuration management and software distribution designed for denied, disrupted, intermittent and limited communications.