Shield AI and EFA GROUP have signed a strategic partnership agreement at Eurosatory 2026 aimed at strengthening Greece’s defence technology and industrial base while advancing sovereign autonomous capabilities for national and European security requirements.

The agreement brings together Shield AI’s combat-proven Hivemind autonomy software with EFA GROUP’s expertise in systems integration, artificial intelligence, platform development, and mission-critical defence technologies. The partnership is intended to provide Greece with sovereign control over advanced autonomous capabilities while supporting the development of a stronger domestic defence industrial ecosystem.

Under the collaboration, the two companies will work to develop and integrate AI-enabled autonomous capabilities tailored to Greek operational requirements. EFA GROUP will leverage its engineering expertise and deep understanding of defence operational environments to customise and integrate Hivemind-based solutions into national architectures, ensuring that autonomous systems can be adapted to evolving mission needs while maintaining full national oversight and control.

“Greece is strategically important to Shield AI not only as a defence 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.”

The partnership reflects a broader trend across Europe, where nations are increasingly seeking sovereign solutions for advanced defence technologies, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and unmanned systems. Governments and armed forces are placing growing emphasis on retaining national control over critical operational capabilities while simultaneously enhancing interoperability with allied forces.

For Greece, the initiative aligns closely with the country’s long-term defence modernisation objectives and the strategic vision outlined under Agenda 2030. By combining Shield AI’s advanced autonomy technology with EFA GROUP’s local industrial capabilities, the partnership is expected to contribute to the development of indigenous expertise in next-generation defence systems while creating opportunities for future innovation and export potential.

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

A key focus of the agreement will be the integration of autonomous capabilities into national defence architectures through advanced systems engineering and artificial intelligence applications. The objective is to create operationally relevant solutions that can support military missions across multiple domains while preserving sovereign ownership of critical technologies.

“The partnership between Shield AI and EFA GROUP is more than a technology transfer,” said Nikos Kalogiannis, Chief Executive Officer 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.”

At the centre of the collaboration is Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot, an autonomy software system designed to enable unmanned platforms to sense, decide, and act autonomously within operator-defined parameters and established command authority. Unlike traditional autopilot systems that rely on predetermined routes and instructions, Hivemind continuously adapts to changing operational conditions, reroutes in real time, avoids obstacles, and executes complex missions with speed, precision, and resilience.

The technology has been specifically developed for contested and communications-degraded environments, enabling autonomous mission execution while maintaining human oversight. Such capabilities are increasingly regarded as essential for future military operations, particularly as armed forces seek to employ larger numbers of unmanned systems across land, air, and maritime domains.

EFA GROUP is a European defence technology organisation delivering integrated, mission-critical capabilities across the modern battlespace. Its portfolio includes 5G-enabled connectivity solutions, command-and-control systems, tactical data links, mission systems, unmanned platforms, future soldier technologies, advanced edge computing, and platform integration capabilities.

By integrating these technologies, EFA GROUP supports secure and resilient information exchange, enhanced situational awareness, and faster decision-making across operational environments. The incorporation of Hivemind autonomy is expected to further expand these capabilities and support the development of advanced autonomous solutions tailored to both national and allied operational requirements.

The agreement signed at Eurosatory 2026 highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence and autonomy within the defence sector and demonstrates Greece’s ambition to play a more prominent role in Europe’s rapidly evolving defence technology landscape. As autonomous systems continue to reshape military operations, partnerships such as this are expected to become increasingly important in ensuring that nations maintain both technological competitiveness and sovereign control over critical defence capabilities.