Shield AI's X‑BAT VTOL combat jet to see prototypes by October with US Navy funding
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Shield AI said the first X‑BAT prototypes will be finished by the end of October and that initial test flights are planned for later this year.
The US Navy announced an additional $150 million investment in the project, adding to a $50 million commitment made in August, to develop an AI‑controlled vertical‑take‑off combat jet that can launch from a ramp positioned on any suitable surface, including parking lots, fields and various ship types.
Shield AI claims the system could turn any ship into an aircraft carrier, potentially saving the Navy money compared with building a new Gerald‑R‑Ford‑class carrier that costs about $13 billion.
Why it matters
If successful, the X‑BAT could reduce the Navy’s carrier‑building expenses.