Unmanned fighter jet with 'AI brain' that helped F-16 in air combat revealed
Oct 23, 2025
Washington [US], October 23: The US company Shield AI has just introduced a multi-role unmanned fighter jet model, with the highlight being the artificial intelligence system that was once used to support F-16 fighters in air combat.
According to Business Insider on October 22, the US defense technology company Shield AI introduced a new fighter model called X-BAT this week. The company said the aircraft can operate unmanned and without a runway, and can take off from islands, ships, and even container ships.
The "brain" of the X-BAT is the Hivemind artificial intelligence (AI) system, said Shield AI Armor Vice President Harris. He said this is the system installed on an F-16 fighter jet that was used for air combat testing last year.
Equipped with AI Hivemind, X-BAT can perform missions without a pilot and move without GPS. Integrating artificial intelligence into aircraft is considered a necessary development to perform tasks that are not really safe for traditional pilots.
Last year, former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew in the X-62A VISTA test plane, essentially an F-16 equipped with Hivemend autonomous AI systems. Kendall sat in the cockpit and watched as the AI piloted X-62A engaged in a dogfight with a manned aircraft. The military did not announce a winner.
One advantage of unmanned combat aircraft is that they are not constrained by safety designs for pilots.
Mr. Harris added that the X-BAT could act as a "co-pilot," flying alongside fighter pilots to enhance combat capabilities. The US Air Force is also investing in equipping unmanned fighter jets to fly alongside traditional aircraft.
Other highlights of the X-BAT are that it is cheaper than traditional fighters, while being able to fulfill a variety of missions. In addition, this vehicle is flexible with the ability to take off vertically, allowing it to deploy from many types of terrain without needing a runway, with an operating range of about 3,700 km.
Shield AI says a large-deck landing ship can hold up to 60 X-BATs, but the fact that it doesn't need a runway allows the military to have flexibility in deployment.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
