GE Aerospace and Shield AI Collaborate on AI-Piloted X-BAT VTOL Fighter

GE Aerospace and Shield AI: Forging a New Era in Autonomous Combat Aviation

The landscape of aerial warfare is on the cusp of a monumental shift, driven by the fusion of artificial intelligence and advanced propulsion. A landmark collaboration announced on November 5, 2025, between GE Aerospace, a titan of engine manufacturing, and Shield AI, a defense technology innovator, perfectly encapsulates this evolution. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to power Shield AI’s new X-BAT vehicle, an AI-piloted fighter jet with vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) capabilities. This partnership is not merely a business agreement; it represents a strategic convergence of legacy engineering prowess and disruptive AI-driven autonomy, promising to accelerate the development of next-generation unmanned combat aircraft.

At the heart of this collaboration is the integration of GE’s battle-tested F110-GE-129 engine and its advanced Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) into the X-BAT platform. The X-BAT, unveiled on October 21, 2025, is designed to operate in contested and austere environments where traditional, human-piloted aircraft face significant risks. By leveraging Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, the X-BAT can function as a standalone asset or as a loyal wingman, executing complex missions without direct human control or reliance on GPS. This venture signals a clear trajectory for military aviation, where intelligent, adaptable, and survivable unmanned systems will play an increasingly critical role in maintaining air superiority.

The significance of this partnership extends beyond the technical specifications. It highlights a broader industry trend: the synergy between established defense contractors and agile, venture-backed tech startups. GE Aerospace brings decades of experience, reliability, and a proven track record in propulsion, while Shield AI contributes cutting-edge AI and a novel aircraft design. This combination aims to fast-track the journey from concept to operational capability, addressing the urgent need for scalable and resilient combat assets in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. The development of the X-BAT is poised to redefine tactical flexibility, offering the ability to deploy high-performance fighter jets from locations without traditional runways.

The Convergence of Proven Power and Advanced Autonomy

The selection of GE Aerospace’s F110 engine to power the X-BAT is a testament to the engine’s enduring legacy and performance. With over 11 million flight hours and 40 years of continuous production, the F110 is one of history’s most successful and reliable fighter engines. It powers a significant portion of the U.S. Air Force’s F-16C/D fleet, a clear indicator of its dependability in demanding scenarios. For the X-BAT, the F110-GE-129 variant provides a crucial foundation of proven power, delivering a thrust class of 29,000 pounds, which is essential for a high-performance tactical aircraft.

However, the true enabler of the X-BAT’s unique capability is the integration of GE’s Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN). This advanced piece of technology allows for 360-degree thrust vectoring, a critical component for achieving vertical take-off and landing. The AVEN manipulates the engine’s exhaust direction, providing the lift needed for vertical flight while also enhancing maneuverability during conventional, horizontal flight. This dual-use capability is what sets the X-BAT apart from other unmanned aerial vehicles, granting it unprecedented operational flexibility. It can be launched and recovered from virtually anywhere, drastically reducing its logistical footprint and dependence on vulnerable airbases.

This powerful Propulsion system is controlled by the “brain” of the aircraft: Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software. Hivemind is an AI pilot designed to enable aircraft to execute complex missions in environments where GPS and communications are denied. It is composed of three pillars: Hivemind Edge for on-board autonomous operation, Hivemind Design for development and simulation, and Hivemind Commander for the human-machine interface. This software allows the X-BAT to perceive its environment, make tactical decisions, and collaborate with other assets without constant human oversight. The Pentagon has already shown confidence in this technology, selecting Shield AI as a provider for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

“We’re excited to pair GE Aerospace’s proven experience in developing and scaling propulsion systems with Shield AI’s vehicle development to move faster from concept to capability.” – Amy Gowder, president and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace.

A New Class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The Shield AI X-BAT is not just another drone; it represents a new category of aircraft. Classified as a Group 5 unmanned aerial vehicle, it is described as an AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet. Its specifications are impressive, with a wingspan of 39 feet, a service ceiling exceeding 50,000 feet, and a maximum range of over 2,000 nautical miles. The aircraft is designed for combat, capable of carrying both air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions in internal bays and on external hardpoints, ensuring a low-observable profile when required.

The strategic advantage of the X-BAT lies in its operational efficiency and scalability. According to Shield AI, three X-BATs can be staged in the same deck space required for one legacy fighter jet, significantly increasing sortie generation rates from a given area. This is particularly crucial for naval operations or expeditionary forces operating in dispersed locations. The ability to launch a high-performance fighter without a runway fundamentally changes the calculus of air power projection, allowing for rapid deployment and unpredictable attack vectors that can overwhelm an adversary’s defenses.

The development timeline for this ambitious project is aggressive, reflecting the urgency of its mission. Following its unveiling in October 2025, the first VTOL flights are scheduled for 2026, with the goal of achieving full mission capability by 2028. This rapid pace is made possible by the collaboration, which leverages GE’s existing, certified engine technology, thereby reducing the technical risk and development time typically associated with a new propulsion system. As Armor Harris, senior vice president of aircraft engineering at Shield AI, stated, “GE Aerospace’s F110 engine is one of the most successful and reliable fighter engines in history and has the operability characteristics that X-BAT’s VTOL design demands.”

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

The Partnerships between GE Aerospace and Shield AI is a microcosm of the defense industry’s future. It demonstrates that integrating mature, reliable systems with revolutionary AI and autonomy is the most effective path to fielding next-generation capabilities quickly. This model of collaboration allows the Department of Defense to leverage the innovation of tech startups without abandoning the proven performance and industrial scale of established prime contractors. The X-BAT program serves as a powerful example of how this synergy can produce a platform that is both technologically advanced and grounded in decades of operational experience.

Looking ahead, the success of the X-BAT could have profound implications for military doctrine and force structure. The concept of “scalable, survivable combat mass” becomes a tangible reality with platforms like the X-BAT. Air forces will be able to deploy large numbers of autonomous, attritable aircraft to overwhelm enemy air defenses, conduct high-risk reconnaissance missions, and provide persistent overwatch without endangering pilots. This shift will require new concepts of operation, new training paradigms for human operators who will command these autonomous fleets, and new ethical frameworks to govern the use of AI in warfare. The journey of the X-BAT from concept to reality will be a key indicator of how quickly and effectively the armed forces can adapt to this new era of autonomous combat.

FAQ

Question: What is the X-BAT?
Answer: The X-BAT is an AI-piloted, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter jet developed by Shield AI. It is designed to operate autonomously in contested environments, either independently or as a wingman to manned aircraft.

Question: What is the nature of the collaboration between GE Aerospace and Shield AI?
Answer: GE Aerospace and Shield AI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). GE will provide its F110-GE-129 engine and Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) to power the X-BAT, along with propulsion and testing support for the program.

Question: What makes the X-BAT’s propulsion system unique?
Answer: The propulsion system combines the proven reliability and high thrust of the GE F110 engine with the advanced AVEN technology. The AVEN enables 360-degree thrust vectoring, which allows the aircraft to perform vertical take-offs and landings while also enhancing its maneuverability in traditional flight.

Question: What is Hivemind?
Answer: Hivemind is Shield AI’s proprietary AI pilot software. It enables the X-BAT to fly and execute complex missions autonomously, without needing GPS or direct human control, making it highly effective in communications-denied environments.

Sources

• GE Aerospace | prnewswire.com