Shield AI Unveils Conceptual X‑BAT Autonomous VTOL

Shield AI unveiled X‑BAT, a conceptual large autonomous VTOL "robo‑wingman" driven by its Hivemind autonomy that the company says can operate in GPS‑ and communications‑denied environments. The jet‑powered blended‑wing design is billed to carry air‑to‑air and anti‑ship missiles as well as electronic‑warfare packages and ISR sensors, and to offer theater‑scale persistence with a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles; Shield says three X‑BATs fit in the deck space of a legacy fighter and the platform can launch from ships, islands or austere sites. Shield plans vertical‑takeoff testing in 2026 with production/operational flights targeted around 2028, lists a per‑airframe price in the roughly $27–30 million range, and estimates roughly $1 billion may be required to reach full operational capability; no contracts have been signed. Shield cites its combat‑proven V‑BAT lineage (in service with the U.S. Coast Guard and used in Ukraine) and a roughly $5.3 billion valuation, positioning X‑BAT against rivals such as Anduril, General Atomics and Kratos amid growing venture investment in defense AI.