Bloomberg
• Tom Giles, Yazhou Sun
Shield AI has completed assembly of its first X-BAT, a single-engine, tail-sitting VTOL autonomous combat aircraft, in Frisco, Texas. The prototype is moving to Kansas for flight testing, with the company aiming for a first flight before year-end; the aircraft is designed for multi-role combat missions.
AI
Latest source-backed stories
The Gambit Series is being presented as a scalable path for collaborative combat aircraft, with its developer positioning the family to counter current threats and address future challenges. The announcement offers no details on aircraft variants, capabilities, customers or delivery timelines.
Germany’s BAAINBw has contracted MBDA Deutschland to build a demonstrator addressing the challenges of integrating a directed-energy weapon onto a tactical aircraft. The initiative is intended to lay groundwork for a Luftwaffe capability to engage drones and cruise missiles; the reports do not specify a platform, schedule or weapon performance.
Shield AI has completed assembly of its first X-BAT, a single-engine, tail-sitting VTOL autonomous combat aircraft, in Frisco, Texas. The prototype is moving to Kansas for flight testing, with the company aiming for a first flight before year-end; the aircraft is designed for multi-role combat missions.
High activity
Saab says it has flight-tested an internally developed AI agent aboard the Gripen E, validating its performance in simulated beyond-visual-range combat scenarios. The agents are trained for multiple air-combat tasks and are being developed for crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with Saab targeting possible operational deployment within months.
United Airlines is deploying defensive artificial intelligence and strengthening cybersecurity operations as it expands in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity across its fleet, CISO Deneen DeFiore said. The rollout is expected to reach the entire fleet by the end of 2027; the report does not specify the AI systems or cybersecurity measures involved.
Shield AI is developing the X-Bat, a vertical-landing combat aircraft, under the leadership of a former SpaceX engineer. The project places the company among efforts to shape next-generation combat aviation, where autonomous operations and unconventional aircraft configurations are emerging features of future fighter concepts.
The military has deployed high-energy laser weapons around President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of a counter-drone shield requested by the Secret Service. The deployment is a security application of directed-energy weapons against unmanned aircraft.
Create a free account to see more recent AI stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
