“X-BAT will execute initial vertical takeoffs and landings as early as fall 2026, with all-up flight testing and operational validation to follow in 2028.”
Senior Vice President of Aircraft Engineering, Shield AI
As of June 2026 Shield AI said its first three X-BAT test assets were nearly complete and a first (tethered) VTOL sortie was targeted for late 2026; production is now discussed for roughly 2029.