Navy and Shield AI add $300 million to X-BAT drone effort

The Navy and Shield AI are putting an additional $300 million into the X-BAT vertical takeoff and landing drone, with the Navy modifying an existing agreement for $150 million and the company matching that amount. The new funding brings their combined investment in the program to $400 million. Flight testing is planned for later this year, with production in the Seattle area and testing in Kansas.

Shield AI and the Navy have expanded their X-BAT partnership through a $150 million Navy modification to an existing Other Transaction agreement, matched by $150 million from the company. This follows an earlier $100 million combined commitment tied to the RIMES effort, which seeks long-range strike drones needing little infrastructure. Total joint investment now reaches $400 million. Flight tests are expected later this year. Production is planned near Seattle, with testing at Newton City-County Airport in Kansas. The company says 500 engineers and suppliers have worked on a test aircraft, and engine ignition and thrust-vectoring nozzle integration are complete. X-BAT is described as 26 feet long, 39-foot wingspan, over 2,000 nautical mile range.

That's maybe 105 words? Let's count. "Shield AI and the Navy have expanded their X-BAT partnership through a $150 million Navy modification to an existing Other Transaction agreement, matched by $150 million from the company." 28? "This follows an earlier $100 million combined commitment tied to the RIMES effort, which seeks long-range strike drones needing little infrastructure." 22. "Total joint investment now reaches $400 million." 7. "Flight tests are expected later this year." 7. "Production is planned near Seattle, with testing at Newton City-County Airport in Kansas." 13. "The company says 500 engineers and suppliers have worked on a test aircraft, and engine ignition and thrust-vectoring nozzle integration are complete." 22