X-BAT
Overview
An autonomous VTOL fighter meant to erase the runway from the problem: it takes off and lands vertically from a truck bed, a clearing, or a ship, then flies more than 2,000 nautical miles at above 50,000 feet with internal and external weapons bays for air-to-air, air-to-surface, and electronic warfare missions. Propulsion is a GE Aerospace F110-GE-129E with the AVEN thrust-vectoring nozzle, integrated and light-off tested on July 20, 2026. Three fit in the deck space of one legacy fighter, and one commander is meant to direct a team of them through Hivemind.
GE shipped the AVEN nozzle in early September 2026 after 100-plus hours of ground tests. The X-BAT page still lists first VTOL flights in 2026, mission capability in 2028 and production in 2029. Air & Space Forces Magazine reported in August 2026 that the jet has not flown yet and that the Air Force has not put money into the airframe, leaving Navy/DIU RIMES as the funded path.