Defense technology firm Shield AI expects to complete the first full-scale prototype of its X-BAT unmanned combat aircraft before the end of the month. The milestone arrives on the heels of expanded financial backing from the U.S. Navy, which has committed an additional $150 million toward the development program. Combined with earlier government commitments and matching company investments, total external funding for the ambitious project has reached $200 million under a milestone-driven development agreement.
Designed to operate without traditional runways, the fighter-sized aircraft utilizes a tail-sitting configuration enabling vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The propulsion architecture pairs a General Electric F110 engine with an axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle to manage stability during vertical flight maneuvers. Engineers have spent the past twelve months conducting extensive engine, thermal, and wind tunnel tests to mitigate technical risks ahead of upcoming flight demonstrations.
Projected performance specifications outline a maximum operating ceiling of 50,000 feet alongside a range stretching 2,000 nautical miles and a combat radius of up to 1,340 nautical miles. The platform features internal weapons bays sized similarly to those on the F-35, complemented by two underwing hardpoints capable of housing munitions, drop tanks, or buddy-refueling equipment. Shield AI anticipates launching initial vertical flight tests later this year, targeting full operational capability by 2029 if upcoming technical hurdles are cleared.
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