{"id":19354,"date":"2026-11-04T06:07:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=19354"},"modified":"2026-11-04T06:07:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:07:35","slug":"x-bat-el-nuevo-drone-de-combate-multifuncional-de-shield-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=19354","title":{"rendered":"X-BAT, el nuevo drone de combate multifuncional de Shield AI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>La empresa estadounidense Shield AI ha presentado el primer prototipo del X-BAT, un dron de combate multirol propulsado por un motor jet y dotado de capacidades stealth (Ocultamiento y sigilo). La caracter\u00edstica principal de este dron reside en su dise\u00f1o tipo tail-sitter, que le permite apoyarse sobre su cola para despegar y tambi\u00e9n aterrizar de forma vertical (VTOL). Debido a esta configuraci\u00f3n innovadora, el sistema no depende de pistas de aterrizaje e infraestructuras fijas convencionales, facilitando su despliegue en todo tipo de entornos operacionales. Puede llevar armamento en el espacio interior, as\u00ed como anclajes externos para misiles y bombas, adem\u00e1s de equipamiento para guerra electr\u00f3nica (GE). A trav\u00e9s de este desarrollo, la empresa busca fusionar en una plataforma aut\u00f3noma, la velocidad y alcance de un caza convencional, con la flexibilidad operativa que otorgan los despegues verticales, adem\u00e1s de integrar sistemas avanzados de Autonom\u00eda e IA.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph pw-incontent-excluded article-paragraph skip\">Shield AI has shared the first look at a full-scale prototype of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/x-bat-autonomous-vtol-fighter-looks-dramatically-different\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X-BAT jet-powered stealth \u2018fighter\u2019 drone<\/a>, which is designed to both take off and land vertically from a tail-sitting position. This is the company\u2019s latest step toward proving out what remains an <em>extremely<\/em> ambitious aircraft concept. The tailless X-BAT has already received a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/navy-doubles-down-on-x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">significant vote of confidence from the U.S. Navy<\/a>, which is hoping to see the drone develop into a real operational capability on a very aggressive timeline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">A video showing X-BAT 001, the first of two full-scale prototypes Shield AI plans to build, was released earlier today and is seen below. The drone is in the process of being moved from the company\u2019s main hub in Frisco, Texas, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/x-bat-drone-fighter-will-begin-vtol-flight-testing-in-kansas-this-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">its flight test facility in Newton, Kansas<\/a>. These sites are also known as X-Forge 1 and X-Forge 2, respectively. X-BAT was revealed to the public last year, as <em>TWZ<\/em> was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/the-rise-of-x-bat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first to report on in depth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"X-BAT 001.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/53LfxCxgwfk\" width=\"1030\" height=\"579\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">X-BAT has already evolved significantly since its unveiling. In April, a half-scale model was displayed at the Navy League\u2019s Sea-Air-Space 2026 exposition, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/x-bat-autonomous-vtol-fighter-looks-dramatically-different\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">showing major changes to the core design<\/a>. The entire planform was reworked from a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/large-cranked-kite-flying-wing-drone-appears-at-chinese-test-base\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018cranked kite\u2019 type arrangement<\/a> to one with an arrowhead-shaped profile featuring a straight leading edge with a more dramatic sweep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">The configuration of the X-BAT 001 prototype is broadly reflective of the model seen at Sea-Air-Space this year, as well as more recent computer renderings. However, there are some notable differences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">For one, the prototype\u2019s thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzle extends significantly to the rear of the drone beyond the trailing edges of the wings. Previously shown models and renders had the nozzle in a position more inset in the rear fuselage.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19356\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19356\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-bat-nozzel-comparison.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-bat-nozzel-comparison.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-bat-nozzel-comparison-300x103.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-bat-nozzel-comparison-768x263.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19356\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A side-by-side comparison of X-BAT 001\u2019s exhaust nozzle configuration, at left, and the arrangement of the nozzle seen on the half-scale model at Sea-Air-Space 2026 in April. Shield AI capture\/Jamie Hunter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">There are also two pronounced bulges toward the rear of the central body, one on either side of X-BAT 001\u2019s dorsal \u2018spine.\u2019 These do not appear to be present on any models or renderings shown in the past. Each one of the bulges also has a small opening at the front. There are two circular openings on top of the spine with mesh screens covering them, as well. Small fans may be visible inside them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">The purpose of these features on top is unknown, and Shield AI declined to comment when asked for more information. They could be tied to the drone\u2019s propulsion arrangement. The drone\u2019s thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzle only provides pitch and yaw control. Shield AI has said in the past that bleed air routed through thrusters in the wings will be used for roll control.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19357\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19357\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19357\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/bulges-circular-openings.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/bulges-circular-openings.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/bulges-circular-openings-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/bulges-circular-openings-768x554.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19357\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A top-down look at X-BAT 001, showing the bulges on either side of the dorsal \u2018spine,\u2019 as well as the circular openings. Shield AI capture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Various panel lines with circular edges are also visible across the top of the drone. This is distinctly different from the saw-tooth-edged paneling depicted on previously shown models and renders.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19358\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19358\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19358\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/X-Bat-prototype.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/X-Bat-prototype.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/X-Bat-prototype-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/X-Bat-prototype-768x431.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19358\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Another full look at X-BAT 001 from the front quarter. Shield AI capture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As an aside, the prototype also features an insignia on the top of its left wing with a skull and other motifs, which the company says is meant to pay homage to all four branches of the U.S. military.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19359\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19359\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19359\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/skull-insignia.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/skull-insignia.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/skull-insignia-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/skull-insignia-768x604.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19359\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A close-up look at the \u2018skull\u2019 insignia. Shield AI capture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cX-BAT 001 is a development aircraft, so the design will evolve as we test and refine it,\u201d a Shield AI spokesperson also told <em>TWZ<\/em> today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">Shield AI had previously said that the prototype nozzle arrangement would lack low-observable (LO) attributes, but also that this would change after initial testing. From what we can see now, the experimental nozzle is well blended considering the current stage of development. Beyond that, it has what appears to be remarkably good low-observable (stealthy) optimization, especially true for a prototype. Initial examples of new designs are often cluttered with elements that are eliminated later on, like antennas and air data probes. Some of these features could be added to X-BAT 001 prior to flight testing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/navy-doubles-down-on-x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an interview with <em>TWZ<\/em> last month<\/a>, Shield AI\u2019s Armor Harris, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the company\u2019s aircraft division, had also compared the expected differences between the full-scale prototypes and production version \u201cas like X-35 versus F-35.\u201d This is a reference to Lockheed Martin\u2019s X-35 demonstrators, which were broadly similar, but also distinctly different from the production variants of the Joint Strike Fighter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cThat\u2019s a full-scale vehicle,\u201d Harris also stressed when talking about the configuration of the full-scale prototypes. \u201cIt\u2019s got the outer mold line, it\u2019s got the F110 engine, the full propulsion path, everything in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">The \u201cpropulsion path\u201d mentioned here, which includes the aforementioned exhaust nozzle and thrusters, is absolutely critical to the X-BAT concept. The design leverages past work on an Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN), first developed in the 1990s for an experimental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/patch-f-16-multi-axis-thrust-vectoring-matv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">thrust-vectoring F-16<\/a> fighter. Shield AI has been using the original test nozzle, which had been in storage for decades, as part of the development process.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter embed-loaded\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet-container\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=FranticGoat&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2079180862243869001&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twz.com%2Fnews-features%2Fx-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-prototype-unveiled&amp;sessionId=16b8ed94f2b49bb8f249267fc857fab0850e4219&amp;siteScreenName=thewarzonewire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"2079180862243869001\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">X-BAT\u2019s ability to take off and land vertically comes down to this propulsion arrangement combined with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems. The GNC elements will leverage Shield AI\u2019s experience with the much smaller, internal combustion-engine-powered, tail-sitting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/sponsored-content\/v-bat-drone-has-proven-its-ability-to-operate-in-heavily-contested-skies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">V-BAT<\/a>. This, in turn, creates benefits from the design perspective, especially obviating the need for any kind of landing gear, and opens the door to a host of new operational possibilities. X-BAT is designed to be launched and recovered via a trailer-based system that can be deployed on land and on ships with sufficient deck space, all with a minimal footprint.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cThe launch and recovery vehicle is actually critical to the operation of the X-BAT weapon system because it enables survivability on the ground. So when you\u2019re operating in a land-based environment, it enables basically shoot-and-scoot tactics,\u201d Shield AI\u2019s Harris told us last month. \u201cEnemy transporter-erector-launchers [for missiles] are like pretty hard to find because they\u2019re constantly moving around. Just like X-BAT, when it\u2019s mated onto the launch and recovery vehicle, [it] is always moving around, makes it hard to track, hard to find, hard to destroy.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19360\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19360\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/launch-recovery-vehicle-x-bat.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/launch-recovery-vehicle-x-bat.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/launch-recovery-vehicle-x-bat-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/launch-recovery-vehicle-x-bat-768x431.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19360\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graphic highlighting various options for deploying X-BATs on land and at sea. Shield AI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">Land-based deployment concepts could be particularly attractive for expeditionary and distribution operations scenarios, especially in the Pacific. This is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/navy-doubles-down-on-x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">something <em>TWZ<\/em> has explored<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/the-rise-of-x-bat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more detail in the past<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">On the maritime side, Shield AI envisions X-BATs on their launch and recovery trailers \u2013 potentially dozens at a time \u2013 being embarked on a variety of ships, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/navy-doubles-down-on-x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amphibious warfare and expeditionary sea base-type<\/a> vessels. The company notably touts the concept as offering additional air combat capacity without having to sacrifice space for crewed planes on aircraft carriers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19361\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19361\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lha-8-x-bat-render.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lha-8-x-bat-render.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lha-8-x-bat-render-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/lha-8-x-bat-render-768x479.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19361\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rendering depicting X-BAT drones on the deck of the US Navy\u2019s future America class amphibious assault ship USS Bougainville. Shield AI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cSo when you think about the number of carrier air wings that the Navy has to deploy, deploying X-BAT across all these other ships basically significantly increases the number of carrier air wings,\u201d Harris said in his interview with us in October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">Once in the air, X-BAT is designed to operate as a multi-mission tactical platform capable of carrying munitions internally and on hardpoints under the wings. The drones will also be able to carry various sensors, electronic warfare packages, and other mission systems. Shield AI plans to leverage <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/sponsored-content\/shield-ai-looks-to-unleash-its-hivemind-autonomy-software-on-multiple-platforms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">its Hivemind software<\/a> to give X-BATs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/sponsored-content\/shield-ais-hivemind-demonstrates-collaborative-autonomy-in-firejet-drones-flight-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a high degree of autonomy<\/a> when carrying out any assigned task.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cThose multirole abilities put X-BAT in a very different category from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/fleet-of-at-least-500-collaborative-combat-aircraft-by-2032-now-in-usafs-plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Air Force Increment 1 CCAs<\/a>. Those are much smaller aircraft, focused exclusively on air-to-air,\u201d Shield AI\u2019s Harris wrote in an extended statement today. \u201cX-BAT is twice the size, has the capacity for air-to-ground strike missions, and carries many more sensors on board. The F110 engine with thrust vectoring also gives X-BAT a much more fighter-like flight envelope than those smaller aircraft with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.williams-int.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Williams-type<\/a> engines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"X-BAT is on the way.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/17_P4x0k3XM\" width=\"1030\" height=\"579\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">Before any of these operational capabilities can be demonstrated, the core X-BAT concept still very much needs to be proven out. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to operationalize broadly similar designs in the past, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/the-rise-of-x-bat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shield AI itself has acknowledged<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">In the past year, Shield AI has conducted \u201cwind tunnel testing, engine testing, thermal testing, all kinds of stuff to basically take the major risks in the program, [and] burn them down, so we can move confidently into the production design,\u201d Harris told <em>TWZ<\/em> last month. The plan for the prototypes now is to \u201cstart with the vehicle horizontal, sitting on that launch and recovery vehicle, running the engine. Then we bring it up vertical, run the engine vertically, run the vehicle vertically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cThen we have one of the biggest cranes in the world that\u2019s getting set up at our test site in Kansas right now, and we hang the vehicle suspended from that crane and do a bunch of testing while it\u2019s hanging from the crane in free flight,\u201d he added. \u201cThen we take the crane away, and then we do the actual untethered flights.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19362\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19362\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19362\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-forge-2-render.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-forge-2-render.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-forge-2-render-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/x-forge-2-render-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19362\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rendering of the X-Forge 2 test facility in Kansas. Shield AI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">As mentioned, the U.S. Navy is already actively supporting development of X-BAT with a clear eye toward fielding the drones operationally in the future. Just this year, Shield AI has received $200 million in funding from the Navy in support of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/navy-doubles-down-on-x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a program called Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike<\/a> (RIMES). Some of this money has come via the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. The company has also committed an equal amount of internal funding to the project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">\u201cThe Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office (DONRCO), in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is aggressively accelerating development and testing of RIMES in order to deliver a runway-independent, long-range maritime strike capability to the fleet at the speed of relevance,\u201d a Navy spokesperson told <em>TWZ<\/em> last week. \u201cSpecific timelines for achieving operational capability will be determined by operational evaluations, flight-test performance, and subsequent fleet requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">RIMES is distinct from the Navy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/sea\/navys-sounds-like-it-now-wants-the-air-combat-drone-it-notoriously-passed-over-a-decade-ago\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">program pursuing carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type<\/a> drones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">Shield AI has said previously that the goal is to fly a fully missionized X-BAT in 2028 and start series production the following year. The company has also raised the prospect of achieving at least a limited degree of operational capability in 2029. As we have noted in the past, X-BAT reaching any real level of operational maturity within three years is, to say the least, an extraordinarily ambitious timeline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph article-paragraph skip\">How fast Shield AI progresses with testing of its initial prototypes, the first of which we have now seen, will speak to its ability to keep to this schedule.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fuente:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/news-features\/x-bat-vtol-fighter-drone-prototype-unveiled?utm_source=beehiiv&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=twz-newsletter&amp;_bhlid=a9e63ccf6b1b502c4103b7e3cc5e6c4f96565b73\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>https:\/\/www.twz.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La empresa estadounidense Shield AI ha presentado el primer prototipo del X-BAT, un dron de combate multirol propulsado por un motor jet y dotado de&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19354"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19354"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19363,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19354\/revisions\/19363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}