Shield AI announced a $150 million U.S. Navy modification for X-BAT. Shield AI will match this with $150 million of its own capital. A prior $50 million RIMES funding action was already matched by Shield AI. Total announced commitments for X-BAT now reach $400 million. X-BAT is an AI-piloted VTOL fighter aircraft. It is part of DIU’s RIMES Project for runway-independent strike assets. Flight testing is scheduled to begin later this year. The aircraft is designed for vertical takeoff and landing from ships and austere sites. Hivemind software serves as its AI pilot for GPS-denied operations. A team of 500 engineers is building flight-test aircraft. Engine light-off and thrust-vectoring nozzle integration are complete. Weapons bay aerodynamics have been validated in wind-tunnel testing.
What changed
Previous announced public and private commitments to X-BAT totaled $250 million.
What it unlocks
Accelerating development and flight testing of the AI-piloted X-BAT aircraft.
- $400 million total investment in X-BAT
- $150 million U.S. Navy modification
- $150 million Shield AI capital
- $50 million prior RIMES funding
Sources