Overview
- GE Aerospace and Shield AI, which completed integration, actuation and engine light‑off testing Monday, validated nozzle movement and basic propulsion function on an F110‑GE‑129E at GE’s Peebles, Ohio test site.
- The Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle steers and tilts the engine exhaust to produce the directional thrust X‑BAT needs to take off vertically, hover and land without a runway.
- Shield AI selected GE in November 2025 to pair a refurbished 1990s AVEN with the F110‑GE‑129E, an engine with millions of flight hours that the teams say reduces development risk.
- Program engineers will run more ground tests and iterate on the propulsion design before installing the nozzle on the X‑BAT prototype and beginning vertical and flight trials later this year.
- If flight testing succeeds, X‑BAT’s runway‑independent VTOL ability could let commanders launch long‑range, heavy‑payload strike missions from ships, islands or remote sites using an autonomous aircraft with large internal weapon bays and high onboard electrical power.