Shield AI Aims for $5 Billion Valuation with $200M Funding Round, to Train Ukrainians on Jam-Resistant Drones

Jan 17, 2025, 01:35 PM

Shield AI, a Silicon Valley-based defense startup specializing in drones and software, is in talks to raise around $200 million in a new funding round that would value the company at $5 billion. Potential investors include Palantir and Lockheed Martin. The company is also set to train Ukrainian forces on the use of jam-resistant V-BAT drones, aiming to enhance Ukraine's capabilities in long-range, strategic-level drone operations amidst ongoing conflicts. This training initiative is part of a broader effort to support Ukraine's drone industry, which has been significantly bolstered by U.S. investments, including $1.5 billion allocated in September 2023 and an additional $800 million last fall for drone components and manufacturing.