Revolutionary 36-year-old jet engine technology powers world's first AI-piloted VTOL fighter

Shield AI and GE Aerospace have unveiled the X-BAT, the world's first AI-piloted VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) fighter jet. The aircraft utilizes a modernized version of the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN), a thrust-vectoring technology originally developed for the F-16 in the 1990s. By pairing this re-engineered nozzle with the F110-GE-129E engine, the X-BAT achieves extreme maneuverability and hovering capabilities that would be physically impossible for human pilots to endure. The integration of advanced AI control systems allows the craft to perform high-G maneuvers without the risk of pilot fatigue or blackout. Designed for deployment in environments with limited runway access, the X-BAT represents a significant leap in autonomous aerial combat technology. Following extensive re-engineering with modern materials and guidance systems, the first test flights are scheduled for late 2026 in Kansas, with full operational validation targeted for 2028.