U.S. Shield AI Reveals X-BAT AI-Piloted vertical take-off and landing Fighter Jet for Autonomous Combat.

U.S. Company Shield AI has unveiled its new X-BAT, a fully autonomous vertical-takeoff-and-landing fighter jet developed in the United States, with first flight planned within two years. The program marks the company’s entry into high-end combat aviation and reflects the Pentagon's growing interest in AI-driven airpower that can operate without traditional runways.

U.S. Company Shield AI announced the development of the X-BAT, a next-generation AI-piloted vertical takeoff and landing combat aircraft designed and built in the United States, according to a 2026 company video release. Positioned as a fully autonomous fighter, the platform is intended to operate without onboard pilots and without reliance on conventional runways, expanding deployment options for U.S. and allied forces. The company, already known for its V-BAT unmanned aircraft system used in ISR missions, is now moving into the higher-end combat aviation market. First-flight milestones are targeted for the next two years, with operational capability projected before the end of the decade, signaling an accelerated push toward AI-enabled tactical airpower.
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Shield AI’s X-BAT is a next-generation AI-piloted vertical takeoff fighter jet developed and manufactured in the United States, combining full onboard autonomy, more than 3,700 km range, and expeditionary VTOL capability to redefine distributed air combat operations. (Picture source: Shield AI)

U.S. Company Shield AI has built its industrial and operational credibility through the development and production of the V-BAT, a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle currently fielded for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The X-BAT represents a strategic expansion beyond ISR roles into autonomous strike and air combat missions. Company officials describe the new aircraft as a response to evolving Pentagon requirements for systems capable of operating independently in contested and communication-denied environments.

From Army Recognition’s analysis, the progression from V-BAT to X-BAT reflects more than a simple scaling effort. It marks a structural evolution in Shield AI’s industrial and technological positioning. The V-BAT established the company as a credible VTOL drone manufacturer with proven autonomy software operating in real-world deployments. Transitioning to the X-BAT demonstrates an attempt to transfer that autonomy backbone into a higher-speed, higher-altitude, and tactically armed platform. This leap suggests Shield AI is positioning itself not merely as a drone supplier, but as a future prime contender in the autonomous combat aircraft sector, traditionally dominated by major aerospace corporations. If successful, the X-BAT could represent one of the clearest examples yet of a technology-driven company disrupting conventional fighter development pathways.

In performance terms, the X-BAT is engineered to sustain maneuver loads exceeding 4g, placing it within the tactical performance envelope required for survivability in modern combat scenarios. The aircraft features a wingspan of approximately 11.9 meters, a fuselage height of about 7.9 meters, and a compact width of roughly 1.5 meters. For expeditionary deployment and storage, it can be accommodated within a volume measuring around 12.2 meters in length, 4.3 meters in width, and 1.8 meters in height, facilitating transport by strategic airlift platforms.

Range and altitude figures further reinforce its fighter-like profile. The X-BAT is credited with a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 kilometers), allowing it to conduct extended missions without immediate refueling support. Its operational ceiling surpasses 50,000 feet, equivalent to more than 15,200 meters, enabling flight above many medium-range air defense systems and enhancing sensor reach across wide operational areas.

At the core of the aircraft is Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy architecture. Unlike traditional remotely piloted drones that rely heavily on satellite links, the X-BAT processes mission data onboard, enabling navigation, threat recognition, and engagement decisions within predefined human-approved parameters. This human-on-the-loop model aligns with current U.S. Department of Defense doctrine, which seeks to maintain command authority while leveraging machine-speed decision-making in high-threat environments.

Development has progressed rapidly. Within 18 months, the program has advanced through wind-tunnel testing, pole testing, and engine trials, while a structural pathfinder airframe is currently in fabrication. First vertical takeoff and landing flights are scheduled for 2026, with mission-capable status projected for 2028. Such a compressed timeline reflects an agile development approach increasingly favored in U.S. defense acquisition circles.

The vertical takeoff capability is central to the aircraft’s operational relevance. By eliminating the need for long, prepared runways, the X-BAT could operate from dispersed forward sites, austere airstrips, or naval platforms. In a future Indo-Pacific contingency, such flexibility would complicate adversary targeting strategies and support distributed force posture concepts under Agile Combat Employment frameworks.

The X-BAT illustrates how Shield AI is transitioning from a specialist in autonomous ISR platforms to a manufacturer of high-end autonomous combat aircraft. If flight-testing and integration milestones are achieved as scheduled, the X-BAT could become one of the first operational examples of a vertically capable, AI-piloted fighter, signaling a structural transformation in how advanced airpower is conceived and fielded.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.