U.S. Navy adds $150 million to Shield AI X-BAT programme, bringing total investment to $400 million
The U.S. Navy executed a $150 million modification to its Other Transaction agreement with Shield AI for the X-BAT AI-piloted VTOL fighter aircraft, bringing combined government and company investment to $400 million. Funding comes from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. Shield AI and the Navy are targeting an operational capability timeline that Breaking Defense describes as 'extremely ambitious.'
Why it matters: A combined $400 million for a single strike-fighter UAS before first flight signals that the Navy is betting heavily on carrier-launched autonomy as a near-term capability, not a technology demonstration.
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