ShieldAI Progresses On X‑BAT Build, Tests Amid Europe Push

FARNBOROUGH, England—Shield AI is progressing on building its initial X-BAT autonomous fighters after it announced on the eve of the Farnborough Airshow that it had fired its thrust-vectoring engine for the first time.

The vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) combat aircraft will have its first flight by the end of the year at the company’s own range in the United States, and the startup’s European arm claims there is a need, and interest, among nations on the continent.

Andrew Hawkes, ShieldAI’s director of X-BAT campaigns for Europe, tells Aviation Week that the pitch for the aircraft is relevant for nations who fly predominantly fourth-generation fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon or the Dassault Rafale. Unlike fifth-generation low-observable aircraft, these older fighters are not as survivable so they need a “highly capable platform to keep them relevant into the 2040 period.”

The comparatively low-observable X-BAT, which has both internal and external storage of weapons, would be capable of pushing back air defenses to allow for those fighters to then conduct their missions.

The X-BAT’s unique VTOL allows it to operate independently of airfields.

“That’s quite a fundamental change for air forces to understand what that means,” Hawkes says. “If your prevalent combat mass is going to be delivered from a Tesco’s (supermarket) car park … that fundamentally changes how you go about force protection.”

The X-BAT uses the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle on the GE Aerospace F110 engine, originally developed for the F-16 Variable In-Flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA). Only one was in existence, and it was pulled from storage for X-BAT integration. The company announced ahead of the Farnborough Airshow it completed integration, actuation and conducted engine light-off testing.

The company has three X-BAT fuselages in build, with three engines and two nozzles, Hawkes says. The second nozzle is a hybrid of old and new parts, he says.

To take off vertically, the X-BAT would use the afterburner on the engine to create enough thrust. This has raised concerns about range because of the use of fuel needed. However, Hawkes says the company’s analysis shows the amount of fuel is comparable to a regular fighter jet laden with weapons which also uses afterburner on takeoff. The X-BAT, with its flying wing shape, has a better lift ratio compared to other fighters so it then has better range.