Shield AI to Acquire Radar Maker Echodyne for 5.3 Billion Dollars, Valuation Jumps to 28.8 Billion

Shield AI, the defense-technology startup behind the autonomous-flight software Hivemind, has agreed to acquire Echodyne — a maker of radar sensors for government and commercial customers — for 5.3 billion dollars. To fund the deal it is raising 2.5 billion dollars in new capital, lifting its valuation to 28.8 billion dollars, more than double March's 12.7 billion.

Deal structure

The 5.3 billion dollar price comprises 4.8 billion in cash and equity plus 500 million contingent on milestones.

Funding package

• 1 billion dollars structured equity from Blackstone.
• 500 million dollars debt from JPMorgan Chase.
• Plus a prior 1 billion dollar Series H round.

Why it matters

The deal deepens Shield AI's push to own the full autonomy stack — flight software plus the sensors that let vehicles perceive the world.

Canonical blog: https://www.threerouter.com/blog/336