Shield AI to Unveil Full-Scale X-BAT Drone Prototype as Navy Funding Hits $200 Million

Shield AI is preparing to unveil the first full-scale prototype of its X-BAT unmanned combat aircraft by the end of October. The project, which has secured $200 million in total external funding including a $150 million commitment from the U.S. Navy, aims to revolutionize maritime operations through a runway-independent, tail-sitting VTOL design. The drone is engineered to reach speeds and ranges exceeding those of the F-35, with a projected combat radius of 1,340 nautical miles and an operating ceiling of 50,000 feet. While the company has completed extensive ground testing, the upcoming flight tests will be critical to validating its vertical take-off and landing capabilities. If successful, the X-BAT could provide the Navy with significant operational flexibility, allowing for deployment from amphibious ships and dispersed land sites. Shield AI targets early operational capability by 2029, marking a major milestone in autonomous maritime strike technology.