The X-BAT combat drone, developed by Shield AI, is expected to begin its first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight tests this year in the state of Kansas, near the city of Newton.
The ability to operate without conventional runways is indicated as the main distinguishing feature of the project and will be the focus of initial evaluations.
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According to Armor Harris, manager in charge of the company’s aeronautical division and considered the creator of the X-BAT, the practical tests will give priority to the validation of take-off and vertical recovery. The statement was released during the AFA Warfare Symposium, held in Denver, where the company outlined the next phases of the program.
The project is considered highly ambitious in the high-performance combat drone segment. The proposal combines stealth capability, long range, significant payload capacity and competitive costs for the US Department of Defense. Bringing all these features together into a single platform already represents a significant challenge — making it capable of operating vertically from virtually anywhere increases the level of complexity even further.
Should it achieve its promised performance, the X-BAT could redefine the flexibility and survivability of tactical unmanned air operations. However, experts and competitors are watching the program with caution, questioning the company’s ability to meet the established technical objectives. The next flight tests will be decisive to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: @shieldaitech | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
“A peer adversary doesn’t have to beat our pilots. They just have to keep them on the ground by cratering runways and annihilating fuel farms. No tankers? No runway? No problem. X-BAT doesn’t need them.” J.J. Cummings, our Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for Navy… pic.twitter.com/gDAydvTH6o
— Shield AI (@shieldaitech) January 6, 2026
