Thursday, August 20, 2026
Navy invests $50 million in Shield AI's X-BAT drone
The US Navy's Rapid Capability Office, the Defense Innovation Unit and PAE Aviation are investing $50 million in Shield AI's X-BAT jet-powered VTOL strike drone under the Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike program, an Other Transaction Authority prototype award announced August 13, 2026. X-BAT is designed for runway-independent, ship-based maritime strike, with a 39-foot wingspan, a range over 2,000 nautical miles and a service ceiling above 50,000 feet.
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