PARIS (June 16, 2026) — Shield AI and EFA GROUP today signed a strategic partnership agreement at the Eurosatory defense exhibition to strengthen Greece’s defense technology and industrial base. 

Under the agreement, Shield AI and EFA GROUP will collaborate to develop and integrate AI pilots for unmanned systems, using Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software as the baseline. EFA GROUP will contribute with expertise in systems and platforms, AI and the delivery of operational solutions in complex environments to customize and integrate the final product addressing Greek requirements while offering national sovereign control and sustainment through its lifecycle. 

“Greece is strategically important to Shield AI not only as a defense partner, but as a nation with the talent, industrial base, and operational mindset to help shape the future of autonomous systems in Europe,” said James Lythgoe, regional director for Eastern and Southeast Europe at Shield AI. “Through our partnership with EFA GROUP, we are investing in a trusted Greek industrial champion to deliver sovereign AI-enabled mission autonomy, strengthen Greece’s technological self-reliance, and position the country as a leader in operational AI supporting both national and European security needs.” 

“Partnering with Shield AI reinforces EFA GROUP’s role as a major national contributor to Greece’s advanced defense technology demands,” said Dr. Grigoris Koutsogiannis, CEO of EFA GROUP. “By combining Shield AI’s proven autonomy stack with EFA GROUP’s engineering, this partnership creates a pathway for next-generation solutions developed in country, as envisioned in Agenda 2030, both for Greece and Europe.” 

“The partnership between Shield AI and EFA GROUP is more than a technology transfer,” said Nikos Kalogiannis, CEO of EFA VENTURES. “By integrating Hivemind into national architectures through advanced systems engineering and AI expertise, EFA GROUP is transforming advanced autonomy into a sovereign operational capability for Greece and a foundation for future autonomous systems”. 

Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot enables platforms to sense, decide, and act autonomously within operator-defined parameters and established command authority. Unlike traditional autopilots that follow fixed routes, Hivemind dynamically adapts to changing mission conditions, reroutes in real time, avoids obstacles, and executes complex tasks with speed, precision, and resilience. 

EFA GROUP is a European defense technology group delivering integrated, mission-critical capabilities across the modern battlespace. By combining expertise in 5G enabled connectivity, Command & Control systems, tactical data links, mission systems, unmanned platforms, future soldier systems, platform integration and advanced edge computing, the GROUP enables secure, real-time information exchange and decision superiority across land, air, and maritime domains.  

Shield AI will be exhibiting at Eurosatory in Hall 5A, Stand A276, and EFA GROUP will be exhibiting in Hall 6, Stand F84.  

About Shield AI: 

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Media contact: Charles Forrester, Communications Manager (Europe), [email protected] 

About EFA GROUP: 

EFA GROUP is comprised of companies with a strong international presence in the fields of Aerospace, Security, Defense, and Industrial Partnerships. Founded in 1997 in Greece, the GROUP employs over 380 professionals, the majority of whom are engineers and scientists in their respective fields. EFA GROUP has established offices across six international regions: Greece, Switzerland, Cyprus, the USA, the UAE, and Singapore, to serve its customers in 40 countries worldwide. For more information: www.efagroup.eu  

Media contact: Elli Michou, Head of Communications, EFA GROUP, [email protected]