X-BAT VTOL UCAV Achieves Critical Propulsion System Milestone for Vertical Flight

Cincinnati, OH & San Diego, CA – A significant stride has been made in the development of the X-BAT Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) as GE Aerospace and Shield AI successfully completed the integration and initial engine light-off testing of its advanced propulsion system. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the program, paving the way for the X-BAT’s projected vertical flight capabilities.

The collaborative effort between GE Aerospace and Shield AI focused on the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN), a crucial component designed to provide the necessary thrust vectoring for VTOL, takeoff, and landing operations. The teams meticulously integrated the AVEN system with GE Aerospace’s F110-GE-129E turbofan engine, followed by a series of functional checks, actuation tests, and the initial engine light-off at a GE Aerospace test facility. This comprehensive testing campaign represents the first time since the 1990s that the AVEN hardware, its control systems, and a turbofan engine have been brought together and validated in a single, fully integrated test environment. Coordinated nozzle movement sequences were executed flawlessly, confirming system performance.

The AVEN technology itself has a rich heritage, having been initially developed in the 1990s as part of a multi-axis thrust vectoring program flown on an F-16 fighter jet. That original development program accumulated an impressive 73 hours of ground testing and 135 flight hours across 95 sorties. For the X-BAT program, the AVEN hardware has been refurbished and reactivated, undergoing rigorous ground tests in preparation for flight trials on the X-BAT prototype.

Armor Harris, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Engineering at Shield AI, emphasized the system’s importance: “The X-BAT is engineered for vertical take-off and landing from virtually any location, eliminating the need for airfields or runways, and this capability is entirely dependent on its propulsion system. AVEN is the cornerstone enabling vertical flight for a platform of this scale and capability. We are deploying this system in an unprecedented manner, as maintaining the platform’s attitude during vertical flight demands rapid gimbaling—a requirement not present in the original program. Adapting flight-proven hardware for this mission has significantly accelerated our development timeline compared to starting from scratch. The swift completion of this integration underscores the exceptional capabilities of our teams. Our next objective is to continue refining our propulsion system to make future iterations even faster, lighter, and more capable.”

Doogie Russell, Vice President of GE Aerospace Edison Works, highlighted the collaborative synergy: “The integration of AVEN with our F110-GE-129E engine and its successful initial light-off test is truly a landmark moment for the GE Aerospace team. By merging our proven expertise in propulsion system development with Shield AI’s innovative capabilities in next-generation aircraft design, we are harmonizing past, present, and future technologies to forge a truly revolutionary air vehicle.”

The X-BAT UCAV is being developed to address the critical demand for long-range, highly survivable aircraft capable of operating in contested airspaces, from vulnerable forward operating bases, and with substantial munition loads. Designed as a long-range, high-survivability, AI-piloted attack aircraft, its VTOL capability enables deployment from naval vessels, remote islands, or austere locations devoid of traditional runway infrastructure or support. Equipped with Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, the X-BAT can execute missions independently or participate in sophisticated Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) operations alongside crewed aircraft.

The X-BAT is designed to carry up to 2,000 pounds (~900 kg) of munitions within each internal weapon bay, comparable in size to those found on the F-35. Furthermore, the platform can generate 80 kW of electrical power, sufficient for operating advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems, functioning as an autonomous jammer, and supporting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads, including active and passive radar modes. With a combat radius of 1,000 nautical miles, the X-BAT is poised to commence flight testing later in 2026.

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