Shield AI vs Stark Defence: Defense & security compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

Shield AI ranks 77 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 80; Stark Defence ranks 84 with 79. Shield AI is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, production, progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Shield AI is based in San Diego, United States, Stark Defence in Berlin, Germany. Shield AI: Established. Shield AI is named in 46 signals and Stark Defence in 2.

Shield AI →

San Diego, California, United States · Robotics · Systems / Defense & security · Established · shield.ai

Shield AI develops and deploys autonomous military aircraft and drones, including V-BAT and X-BAT, for ISR and other defense missions. Its systems also support counter-drone operations through Tracker C-UAS.

Robotics 100 · rank 77 · score 80Space · watchlist · score 61AI Core · watchlist · score 59

Scores, Robotics (of 10)

Deployment6
Production6
Commercials8
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Shield AI is a US defense-autonomy company whose V-BAT drone is deployed with the Coast Guard, Netherlands, Romania, Indonesia, and Japan, with ~$300M revenue in the year ending March 2025 and guidance above $540M for FY26 (+80%). It raised a $1.5B Series G at a $12.7B valuation in March 2026, had its Hivemind software selected for the Air Force CCA program (running on General Atomics and Anduril airframes), and won a $198M Coast Guard IDIQ at 100% on KPPs. An Aechelon acquisition is pending, and it has a GE Aerospace engine partnership.

Latest signals

  • Shield AI unveiled the X-BAT vertical-takeoff drone prototype.Golem
  • The U.S. Navy committed another $150 million to Shield AI’s autonomous X-BAT fighter drone.The Register
  • Shield AI matched the US Navy’s additional $150 million commitment to X-BAT.The Register

46 signals name Shield AI.

Facts, with sources

  • [object Object]Shield AI
  • USD 500000000The Robot Report
  • Shield AI named X-BAT the Official Autonomous Aircraft of America’s GameShield AI

29 facts on file.

Stark Defence →

Berlin, Berlin, Germany · Robotics · Systems / Defense & security · stark-defence.com

Stark Defence supplies counter-UAS systems against autonomous and remotely operated aerial threats, including through a partnership with INLEAP Photonics for German defense.

Robotics 100 · rank 84 · score 79

Scores, Robotics (of 10)

Deployment6
Production6
Commercials6
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Stark Defence is a German maker of the Virtus loitering munition (a 10-minute assembly, deployed in Ukraine) with production in Germany, Ukraine, Sweden, Greece, and a UK plant opened in 2025. It raised a EUR 500M round in June 2026 at a >EUR 3.5B valuation (Sequoia and Founders Fund lead, EUR 660M+ total) and won initial Bundeswehr contracts (~EUR 269M, February 2026) under a framework up to EUR 1B. Revenue is estimated at 10-100m (not disclosed).

Latest signals

  • INLEAP Photonics entered a strategic partnership with STARK Defence for German counter-UAS systems.EU-Startups
  • Stark Defence raised €500 million in late June.Maddyness

2 signals name Stark Defence.

Facts, with sources

  • [object Object]EU-Startups
  • Strategic partnership with INLEAP Photonics for German counter-UAS systemsEU-Startups
  • EUR 500000000Maddyness

4 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

Shield AI or Stark Defence: which is ahead in robotics?

Shield AI ranks 77 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 80; Stark Defence ranks 84 with 79. Shield AI is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, production, progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Shield AI is based in San Diego, United States, Stark Defence in Berlin, Germany. Shield AI: Established. Shield AI is named in 46 signals and Stark Defence in 2.

How do Shield AI and Stark Defence compare?

Shield AI ranks 77 on the Robotics 100 with a score of 80; Stark Defence ranks 84 with 79. Shield AI is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, production, progress, technology, positioning, firepower and leverage. Shield AI is based in San Diego, United States, Stark Defence in Berlin, Germany. Shield AI: Established. Shield AI is named in 46 signals and Stark Defence in 2. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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