Shield AI and US Government Commit $400 Million to X-BAT

Oct 8, 2026
The US Navy added $150 million to its agreement with Shield AI for the X-BAT fighter aircraft. Shield AI will match the funding, bringing total public and private commitments to $400 million.

Shield AI announced in a press release that the U.S. Navy added $150 million to an existing agreement for the X-BAT fighter aircraft. Shield AI will invest another $150 million alongside the government funding.

The Navy previously provided $50 million to X-BAT through the Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike project, while Shield AI committed a matching $50 million. The two funding actions bring announced public and private commitments to $400 million.

About 500 engineers at Shield AI and its suppliers are building flight test aircraft. The team has completed engine light off and thrust vectoring nozzle integration, while wind tunnel tests have validated the weapons bay aerodynamics. X-BAT uses Shield AI's Hivemind software as its AI pilot and is designed to operate without GPS or reliable communications.

Flight testing is scheduled to begin later in 2026. X-BAT is designed to take off and land vertically from ships, islands and sites without fixed runways.

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