GE Aerospace and Shield AI are teaming up. They aim to create advanced propulsion technology for Shield AI’s X-BAT vehicle program. The X-BAT will use the GE Aerospace F110-GE-129 engine. It has an innovative Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN). This plan is in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). GE Aerospace will give expert help in propulsion to speed up the aircraft’s development.
“We’re excited to pair GE Aerospace’s proven experience in developing and scaling propulsion systems with Shield AI’s vehicle development to move faster from concept to capability,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “Together, we’re helping redefine how advanced propulsion technologies are integrated into autonomous systems built for the mission. Collaborating with Shield AI underscores GE Aerospace’s commitment to advancing propulsion for next-generation autonomous systems.”
A New Era of AI-Piloted Air Combat
Launched on October 21 in Washington, D.C., X-BAT is a major advance in autonomous aviation tech. This AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet from Shield AI is built for tough environments. It offers scalable and survivable combat power. Powered by Shield AI’s combat-proven Hivemind autonomy software, X-BAT can perform missions independently or operate as an intelligent drone wingman alongside crewed aircraft.
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“GE Aerospace‘s F110 engine is one of the most successful and reliable fighter engines in history and has the operability characteristics that X-BAT’s VTOL design demands. GE Aerospace has been a great partner, and we are excited by the potential of our combined team,” said Armor Harris, senior vice president of aircraft engineering at Shield AI.
Accelerating the Future of Autonomous Propulsion
The partnership merges GE Aerospace’s knowledge in propulsion with Shield AI’s talents in autonomous flight and AI. This speeds up the process from design to being ready for future drone uses.
The GE Aerospace F110 engine has over 11 million flight hours. It is one of the most trusted fighter engines globally. It offers the best thrust in its class. Plus, it just marked 40 years of steady production and innovation. The AVEN integrated into the X-BAT configuration enhances both vertical takeoff performance and horizontal maneuverability through advanced thrust vectoring – a key enabler for agile, multi-domain operations.