Shield AI and GE Aerospace Complete X-BAT VTOL Engine Test

Shield AI and GE Aerospace have successfully integrated a 1990s-era thrust-vectoring nozzle into the F110-GE-129E engine, clearing a critical Propulsion milestone for the X-BAT autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) strike fighter.

The adaptation of the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) enables the 22,000-pound X-BAT to launch and land vertically, eliminating the need for traditional runways. By utilizing flight-proven hardware from previous decades, the companies have significantly accelerated the development timeline for the uncrewed aircraft, which is projected to make its first flight in late 2026.

Resurrecting 1990s Propulsion Technology

Originally developed in the 1990s for the Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring (MATV) program, the AVEN nozzle was initially tested on a specialized F-16 aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base. During that period, the hardware accumulated 135 flight hours across 95 sorties.

Historical records regarding the nozzle’s initial ground testing vary slightly. GE Aerospace reported 87 hours of ground tests in an August 20, 2026, retrospective article, while a July 20, 2026, joint press release from the companies cited 73 hours.

Shiva Vallabhaneni, Senior Propulsion Engineer for X-BAT at Shield AI, noted the unique nature of the adaptation in a corporate release.

“By combining decades of propulsion engineering with modern autonomy and new aircraft architecture, we’ve transformed a technology built for one mission into the foundation for something its original designers could never have envisioned,” Vallabhaneni stated.

Engine Light-Off and Integration

On July 20, 2026, Shield AI and GE Aerospace announced the completion of integration, actuation, and engine light-off testing at GE Aerospace’s Peebles Test Operation in Ohio. This event marked the first fully integrated test campaign of the AVEN nozzle since its original 1990s development.

The testing validated that the nozzle, the F110-GE-129E engine, actuators, and control systems functioned together as a single propulsion unit.

Armor Harris, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Engineering at Shield AI, emphasized the efficiency of this approach. He explained that taking hardware with a flight-proven track record and adapting it for the X-BAT mission allowed the team to move through development at a rapid pace rather than starting from zero.

U.S. Navy Rimes Program Contract

The propulsion milestones align with growing military interest in runway-independent platforms. On August 14, 2026, Aviation Week reported that the U.S. Navy awarded Shield AI a $50 million Contracts to develop the X-BAT under the Runway Independent Maritime Expeditionary Strike (Rimes) program.

According to the publication, the Navy intends to operate the VTOL aircraft from destroyers, expeditionary sea bases, and aircraft carriers to execute long-range strike missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view the integration of the AVEN nozzle as a highly pragmatic engineering decision by Shield AI. Developing a clean-sheet VTOL propulsion system for a 22,000-pound strike fighter would typically require billions of dollars and over a decade of testing. By mating an existing, flight-proven thrust-vectoring nozzle to the widely used F110 engine family, the company bypasses the highest-risk phases of aerospace propulsion development.

Furthermore, the X-BAT concept directly addresses a primary concern for modern military planners: the vulnerability of fixed airbases and large aircraft carriers. Distributing autonomous strike capabilities across smaller surface vessels like destroyers and expeditionary sea bases requires robust VTOL performance, which the AVEN technology now appears ready to provide.

Sources: GE Aerospace