A San Diego defense tech firm, Shield AI, introduced an AI-piloted fighter jet called the X-BAT on Tuesday, capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) without runways, advancing the Pentagon's vision of autonomous drones operating combat missions alongside human pilots. Unveiled in Washington, the jet is powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind software, designed to function in GPS- and communications-denied combat environments. The X-BAT distinguishes itself with VTOL capability, a fighter-class engine, over 2, 000 nautical miles range carrying full mission payload, and operational ceilings above 50, 000 feet. Shield AI highlights the aircraft’s unique combination of VTOL, extended range, multirole flexibility, and autonomy as transformational for airpower survivability and adaptability. Armor Harris, Shield AI’s senior VP of aircraft, emphasized that VTOL plus range reduces ground vulnerability and dependence on tanker support, while multirole capability offers critical adaptability in evolving threats. The jet supports internal and external weapons configurations for strike, counterair, electronic warfare, and intelligence missions, with up to three X-BATs fitting into the deck space of one conventional fighter or helicopter. Co-founder and former Navy SEAL Brandon Tseng called runway-independent airpower “the holy grail of deterrence, ” offering persistence, reach, survivability, and diplomatic leverage. Priced comparably to other Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs, the X-BAT purportedly achieves a roughly tenfold cost-effectiveness improvement over fifth-generation fighters by reducing pilot training and risk expenses. While Shield AI has not disclosed specific customers beyond the Air Force’s CCA program, it reports strong engagement progress. Ground tests validating the airframe, engine, and VTOL ability are complete; first flights are planned for fall 2026, with full mission capability demonstrations targeted for 2028. The X-BAT aligns with the Air Force’s accelerating adoption of autonomous warfare within its CCA program, which aims to deploy AI-enabled drones as force multipliers alongside manned fighters.

The Congressional Research Service notes a planning goal of 1, 000 CCAs, about two per advanced fighter. In May 2024, former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew aboard an autonomous F-16 (X-62A VISTA) performing AI-piloted dogfighting, stating trust in AI weapon launch decisions afterward. Shield AI supplies mission autonomy software for the CCA alongside RTX, while General Atomics and Anduril build first increment airframes, with production decisions anticipated by fiscal 2026. However, Pentagon reliance on venture-backed defense firms like Shield AI—valued at $5. 3 billion and having raised $1. 3 billion—raises concerns about production scale and sustainable delivery. For instance, a 2024 incident involving a U. S. Navy member’s injury during a V-BAT drone landing demo prompted safety audits and redesigns to remove human landing assistance. Despite challenges, the X-BAT highlights the rapid progress toward operational autonomous combat aircraft, propelled by private companies entering military aviation.