The capabilities combine Booz Allen’s mission autonomy software and secure fleet updates with PDW’s adaptable aircraft.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — American defense technology company Performance Drone Works (PDW) today announced the integration of Booz Allen’s (NYSE: BAH) new mission autonomy software, powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind, on its AM (Attritable Multirotor) drones. The software supports autonomy-enabled mission execution, helping operators execute parts of the mission workflow with reduced manual control while retaining mission decision-making authority. PDW is also integrating Booz Allen’s secure, over-the-air fleet update product across its aircraft portfolio.
The offerings advance PDW’s strategy to move decisive capability closer to the operator and keep fielded systems relevant as missions change. That strategy is backed by Drone Factory 01, PDW’s 90,000-square-foot Huntsville, AL, facility, which has an annual production capacity of 100,000 drones.
“The advantage will belong to the force that can field, adapt, and scale unmanned and autonomous systems fastest,” said James Slider, CEO of PDW. “Through our work with Booz Allen, operators gain advanced autonomy at the point of decision and a faster path to updated fielded aircraft as missions change, backed by U.S. capacity to produce and sustain their aircraft at scale. Warfighters should not have to stand by for airpower or be limited by a static capability outpaced by modern conflict.”
Booz Allen’s autonomy software enables operator-directed missions on AM
AM is PDW’s multi-mission Group 1 unmanned aircraft system, designed to bridge reusable and attritable roles on a single platform. It can be recovered and reused for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), payload delivery, and other missions, then configured for attritable strike when required.
Customers can operate AM in its base configuration or add Booz Allen’s autonomy software to enable autonomy-assisted perception and operator-authorized effects delivery within a single mission workflow. These capabilities are designed to reduce cognitive burden and help operators make faster, informed decisions while preserving their control over mission outcomes.
The combined hardware and software product entered controlled testing on September 30 and is planned for general availability in the first quarter of 2027. PDW and Booz Allen plan to develop additional autonomous software options and extend the mission autonomy software to the C100 in 2027.
“The Department of War needs autonomy that works at the pace of the mission,” said Randy Yamada, a vice president and autonomy lead within Booz Allen’s defense technology business. “Booz Allen’s autonomy software gives unmanned aircraft onboard mission behaviors that help reduce operator burden and keep teams focused on mission outcomes, while our fleet update manager provides the secure software delivery and lifecycle management needed to update and verify those capabilities across a distributed fleet, even in contested, disconnected environments. Together, they operationalize these capable platforms that can evolve as the threat does.”
Secure over-the-air updates enable software delivery across drone fleets in any environment
Booz Allen’s secure, over-the-air fleet update product gives authorized teams a common control point for deploying software, managing configurations, and monitoring aircraft across a distributed fleet. Built for operations in denied, disrupted, intermittent, and limited-connectivity environments, it maintains deployment integrity through disrupted or limited connectivity.
The product provides visibility into fleet status, configuration control, and deployment history, and supports approved applications ranging from payload integration to mission-enabling autonomy. By replacing aircraft-by-aircraft software changes with a managed fleet workflow, it is designed to reduce approved update cycles from weeks or months to hours.
PDW will host customer, partner, and media meetings during AUSA 2026, October 12–14 in Washington, D.C., to discuss autonomy, partner integrations, and future roadmap plans. To request a meeting, visit info.pdw.ai/ausa.
Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Performance Drone Works is an American defense technology company developing multi-mission aerial robotic systems and the software, communications, payload, training, and manufacturing capabilities that keep them relevant in the field. PDW develops proprietary systems and works with selected partners to bring proven technology into U.S. qualification, production, and support pathways. From Drone Factory 01, PDW designs, engineers, manufactures, fields, and sustains mission-ready capability for defense, government, public safety, and allied customers. Its mission is decisive airpower in the hands of every operator.
