US Navy Adds $150M in Funding for Runway-Independent X-BAT Fighter Drone
The X-BAT could allow the US Navy to operate combat aircraft from a wider variety of vessels without needing traditional runways or giant carriers.
• The US Navy committed an additional $150 million to advance the X-BAT drone project.
• Shield AI matched this with $150 million of its own capital, bringing total combined funding to $400 million.
• Flight testing for the runway-independent aircraft is scheduled to begin later this year.
Read more
October 9, 2026 20
