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Unmanned Systems

Flight Debut for Shield AI X-BAT Could Come Next Fall

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

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Flight Debut for Shield AI X-BAT Could Come Next Fall

Pictured is a Shield AI graphic of future X-BAT fighter drones on their vertical take-off and landing stands.

Shield AI plans to conduct initial vertical takeoff and landing demonstrations of its X-BAT drone fighter jet "as early as fall 2026, followed by all-up flight testing and operational validation in 2028," according to a spokeswoman for the effort. The company said this week that the X-BAT is to have a more than 2,000 mile range and to be guided by Shield AI’s Hivemind artificial intelligence software. The X-BAT--an autonomous fighter drone for expeditionary and maritime operations when military forces…

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