Hyundai Rotem Partners with Shield AI for Drone Operation Technology

Hyundai Rotem is strengthening its AI-based technological competitiveness in the defense sector.

The company announced on Oct. 24 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shield AI, a U.S. AI solution company, for the development of defense AI-based multipurpose drone operation technology at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2025 (ADEX 2025) held at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Oct. 23.

This agreement focuses on applying autonomous mission technology that can respond to non-linear threats occurring on the battlefield to Hyundai Rotem’s next-generation manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) ground weapon systems. Modern warfare is trending towards the spread of “non-linear combat” where the distinction of front lines becomes ambiguous, with expanded use of drones for early enemy detection and guerrilla warfare.

Hyundai Rotem plans to gradually research, develop, and advance autonomous combat mission performance technology for unmanned systems using Shield AI’s AI-based autonomous combat software platform, “Hivemind Enterprise (HME)”.

HME is a tool for developing autonomous mission execution technology that enables collaboration and mission sharing between platforms without human intervention. It is optimized for implementing key MUM-T weapon system operations such as battlefield situation awareness, information sharing, autonomous judgment and control, and cooperative strike missions. This software is mainly used in the introduction of next-generation unmanned strategic assets such as unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned submersibles in the United States and Australia.

Hyundai Rotem plans to first develop technology to mount drones capable of autonomous mission execution on its next-generation ground weapon lineup. Then, it will devise an autonomous mission execution and swarm control system for unmanned systems such as HR-SHERPA, a multipurpose unmanned vehicle, or quadruped walking robots on the battlefield. In the final stage, based on the previously advanced AI technology, the company plans to develop technology that can integrate and command-control various types of MUM-T weapon systems to prepare for future battlefields.

A Hyundai Rotem official said, “We plan to actively evolve next-generation ground weapon systems in line with rapidly changing global battlefield trends,” adding, “We will continue to strive to contribute to the Republic of Korea’s leap towards becoming an ‘AI-strong military’.”