We Built the First X-BAT Prototype in One Year. Now We Put it to the Test.

Shield AI has completed the first full-scale prototype of its X-BAT autonomous vertical takeoff and launch strike fighter, marking a major milestone achieved in one year. The company is now transporting the aircraft to a facility in Newton, Kansas, to begin testing launch and recovery capabilities, with plans for untethered flights and a 2028 operational flight schedule. The multirole strike fighter is designed to provide an asymmetric threat that operates independently of vulnerable fixed runways. Open article →