KORTHOSCompaniesProductsVerified EventsSupply Chain

Product profile

X-BAT

X-BAT is Shield AI’s jet-powered VTOL collaborative combat aircraft under development. Hivemind autonomy is intended to support air-to-air, air-to-surface...

Facts

Company
Shield AI
Product type
uav
Status
development
Primary capability
generalist
Website
https://shield.ai/x-bat/

About X-BAT

X-BAT is a jet-powered vertical-take-off combat aircraft designed to combine fighter-like range and altitude with runway-independent deployment. Shield AI lists a maximum range beyond 2,000 nautical miles, operating altitude above 50,000 feet and manoeuvring above four times gravitational acceleration, with internal bays and external hardpoints for mission payloads.

Hivemind is intended to let X-BAT aircraft collaborate with crewed fighters and other autonomous systems without continuous communications, GPS or direct remote piloting. Proposed roles include air-to-air, air-to-surface and electronic-warfare missions from ships, dispersed land sites and conventional bases. First flight is targeted for 2026, with production planned for 2029.

Market context

generalist

Summary

Type: Combat UAV

Core: Autonomous wingman

Function: Defense autonomy

Audience: Armed forces

Specifications

ceiling
>15,240 m / 50,000 ft ceiling
dimensions
7.9 m x 1.5 m fuselage height / 26 ft x 5 ft; 12.2 m x 4.3 m x 1.8 m storage / 40 ft x 14 ft x 6 ft
launch_recovery
Vertical takeoff and landing for expeditionary and maritime operations
maneuver_load_factor
>4g maneuver load factor
max_range_km
more than 3,704 km km
operational_environment
Expeditionary and maritime operations in contested environments
operational_role
Autonomous VTOL combat aircraft for runway-independent fighter operations
propulsion
GE F110 engine
task_scope
Contested-environment combat aircraft operations
wingspan
11.9 m / 39 ft wingspan

Research, Articles and recent verified events