Shield AI Unveils X-BAT VTOL Uncrewed Fighter

Shield AI unveiled the X-BAT, an uncrewed VTOL fighter powered by its Hivemind autonomy (the same system used in a modified F-16 dogfight test), designed to operate without pilots, runways or reliable GPS/communications. The 26-by-40-foot design is intended for strike, counter-air, electronic warfare and ISR missions, can carry anti-ship and air-to-air missiles as well as EW packages, and the company says it will exceed a 2,000-nautical-mile range and reach altitudes around 50,000 feet. Shield says three X-BATs fit in the deck space of one legacy fighter or helicopter and the platform can launch from trailers, ships or islands to operate either as a standalone combat asset or as a “drone wingman.” Shield AI plans VTOL testing in 2026 with full flight tests and operational targets around 2028, and estimates per-unit production costs at roughly $27 million. Bloomberg reported the program may need about $1 billion to become operationally capable, and Shield AI was recently valued at about $5.3 billion after funding. The unveiling underscores a broader Pentagon shift toward AI-enabled, runway-independent combat platforms.