The X-BAT UCAV from Shield AI

[Signal Witch]

Shield AI and the X-BAT UCAV




Shield AI, the San Diego outfit behind the V-BAT, isn’t sitting still. Their V-BAT has already earned its stripes with the Army and Navy, even flying operationally overseas. It’s a tough little vertical-takeoff drone that works from ship decks and backroads just the same, and that success has given the company enough confidence to aim a lot higher.

 That next step is the X-BAT, a jet-powered UCAV built around genuine autonomy. Shield describes it as a stealthy, vertical-takeoff, multi-mission platform. On paper it’s about 26 feet long with a 39-foot wingspan, a ceiling near 50,000 feet, and a range close to 2,000 nautical miles. The plan is for it to handle air-to-air, strike, ISR, and electronic warfare missions, all through their Hivemind AI system so it can keep fighting even if the datalink drops. Shield says a VTOL demonstrator will fly in 2026, with full-up jet tests following around 2028.

 It’s an ambitious idea. Blending stealth shaping, a jet engine, and vertical lift in the same frame is no small feat. VTOL gives it incredible flexibility and survivability, but it also adds weight and mechanical complexity. If they manage to make it work, the X-BAT could become a deployable, low-cost combat jet that doesn’t need a runway. If they miss the mark, it could go down as another ambitious prototype that never quite made it past the test range.

 Speaking of testing, if they’re already running VTOL jet trials, the smart bet would be on Edwards Air Force Base or China Lake. Both have the restricted airspace, range infrastructure, and the kind of instrumentation you need for something this experimental. Point Mugu and the offshore sea range are possibilities too, especially for shipboard work, but for the heavy developmental testing, Edwards or China Lake would make the most sense.

My take, the X-BAT is one of the boldest private sector pushes at a true combat UCAV we have seen. It could change how tactical airpower is delivered, or it could end up as a costly demonstration. Either way I think it is one to watch.

[billxam]

I question the term "genuine autonomy", asking for a friend, John.

[Signal Witch]

I question the term "genuine autonomy", asking for a friend, John.

When I said “genuine autonomy,” I wasn’t trying to sell it as self-aware.

What Shield has been showing with Hivemind on their V-BATs is a step past remote control and scripted flight paths. These units can run full missions in places where GPS and comms are getting hammered, and they don’t need constant hand-holding from a ground station.
 
The system makes real-time choices inside a preset mission box. It decides how to route, when to climb, how to react to threats, and how to get home if the link drops.

[Sirius]

idk if this is a good spend of money, there is plenty of ways to deal with hard targets already. swarms of little drones is better.

this program was better, what happened to it?

[Zaphod58]

idk if this is a good spend of money, there is plenty of ways to deal with hard targets already. swarms of little drones is better.

this program was better, what happened to it?

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OixSNQp0S_k]

So you think it's better to have to fly over the target area to release hundreds of small, very short ranged drones, instead of having one large drone capable of travelling from well outside the target area, to the target, and back again to be reused?

[Sirius]

So you think it's better to have to fly over the target area to release hundreds of small, very short ranged drones, instead of having one large drone capable of travelling from well outside the target area, to the target, and back again to be reused?

is everything targets and objectives in your world?

[Sirius]

and yes, i do think it's better, sorry didn't mean to ignore that

[Sky727]

In the next 10 years if not sooner air warfare will be changed beyond most of our expectations. Notice how many companies are trying to make autonomous "loyal wingmen" ...

These things can pull up to 20+Gs or more. A manned aircraft is toast if these things lock on even with guns. 

[Zaphod58]

is everything targets and objectives in your world?

When discussing WAR FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, yes it is.

[Zaphod58]

and yes, i do think it's better, sorry didn't mean to ignore that

Thank god you'll never be in a position to order people around if you think it's better to send a manned aircraft into harms way, almost directly over a target, so they can release small drones that will do very little overall.