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Poland to produce X-BAT autonomous fighter drones. Shield AI, Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), and Military Aircraft Works No. 2 - WZL-2 have signed a Letter of Intent regarding cooperation in the design, production, and delivery of the X-BAT, as well as its maintenance in Poland. The X-BAT is an AI-piloted unmanned fighter that takes off and lands vertically, allowing it to operate from small areas, ships, and roads instead of runways. In accordance with the Letter, the parties will determine the nature of the PGZ Group's participation in the design, production and delivery of the X-BAT for customers in Poland and other countries. According to the announcement, the arrangements also cover current Shield AI products, including Hivemind autonomous software and the V-BAT aircraft, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training, participation in the Shield AI supply chain, and technology transfer and development. The scope of cooperation extends beyond the two Polish signatories and includes other PGZ Group companies. WZL-2, one of the largest aviation plants in Poland and part of a group of companies of strategic importance to Poland's defence, is already developing maintenance capabilities for the F110 engine family, which powers the X-BAT. The detailed division of tasks and locations will be determined in the final agreements, on which the three companies will now begin work. The Letter of Intent is valid for five years. PGZ is prepared to undertake demanding industrial tasks related to advanced autonomous systems, and the X-BAT is exactly such a programme. Defence24 Ltd. possess the potential to involve companies from various areas of the Group's operations in this cooperation, utilising their experience in aviation production, systems integration, maintenance, and securing the entire equipment life cycle. Defence24 Ltd. want Poland to be not only a recipient of a ready-made solution but also an active industrial partner involved in building and developing this type of capability. This is an opportunity to acquire new competences, include Polish enterprises in the international supply chain, and create a sustainable domestic base for the maintenance and further development of the system for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PGZ S.A. WZL-2 has been responsible for the maintenance and support of F-16 and C-130 aircraft operated by the Polish Armed Forces for many years. Defence24 Ltd. is currently preparing to expand its competences to include work related to the F110 engine family, which is to provide the power source for the X-BAT. Its experience, combined with technical potential, infrastructure and, above all, qualified personnel, can provide a solid basis for building a domestic maintenance facility for this system in Poland. Defence24 Ltd. want the development of new aviation capabilities for the Polish Armed Forces to be closely linked to the parallel strengthening of domestic industrial and service potential added Jakub Gazda, President of the Management Board of WZL-2 Poland is investing in advanced technologies on a scale that few countries in Europe can match and is building institutions that enable the rapid deployment of these technologies. PGZ and WZL-2 already provide maintenance for Polish combat aircraft. Defence24 Ltd. want this industrial base to build and support the X-BAT for both Poland and export said Ryan Tseng, CEO, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Shield AI In June, Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke about the possibility of Poland developing an autonomous combat aircraft programme together with Shield AI, including domestic production. A few days later, the Armament Agency selected the V-BAT for the Polish Navy, with deliveries scheduled for the latter part of 2026. X-BAT is an unmanned, multi-role strike fighter with a low-observable design. It has a combat radius of 1,000 nautical miles and can carry up to 2,000 pounds of ordnance in internal bays, the dimensions of which correspond to those of the F-35. An 80-kilowatt electrical system powers the electronic warfare, radar, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, operating within an open mission architecture. The X-BAT is powered by the GE Aerospace F110 engine, and its flight trials will begin this year. The aircraft can operate both in cooperation with manned fighters and independently.

Poland wants fighter jets that fly without a pilot. They do not even need an airport. The Polish Armaments Group has taken a step toward cooperation with American industry in building a new generation of unmanned, multirole strike fighters. During MSPO in Kielce, PGZ and Military Aviation Works No. 2 signed a letter of intent with Shield AI concerning the X-BAT, an autonomous unmanned fighter. 10.09.2026 07:00 During the 2026 International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, the American company Shield AI, the Polish Armaments Group and Military Aviation Works No. 2 signed a letter of intent on cooperation under the X-BAT program. The agreement covers a potentially very broad scope of activity, from design engineering, through production and deliveries, to subsequent servicing, repairs and overhauls. Shield AI describes the X-BAT as an unmanned multirole strike fighter. The design looks like a flying wing and is to be characterized by low observability (stealth), meaning solutions limiting the enemy's ability to detect the aircraft. One of the most unusual features of the X-BAT is to be its method of operation. The aircraft was designed as a structure capable of vertical takeoff and landing. This means that it does not need a classic runway. According to the manufacturer, it can operate from small prepared sites, roads, and also from ship decks. This solution matters primarily from the point of view of aviation survivability. Classic airfields are large and easy-to-identify targets. Their destruction could take classic aviation out of the game, or at least make its functioning very difficult. Dispersing unmanned aircraft and the ability to use small launch sites could make it harder for the enemy to destroy them. Hivemind, radar and armament. The parameters declared by the manufacturer show that the X-BAT is to be significantly more advanced than typical unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance. Shield AI declares a combat radius of about 1,850 km. The aircraft is also to receive internal weapons bays. Their dimensions are to correspond to solutions used in the F-35, and the declared weight of the carried armament is to be about 907 kg. Placing weapons inside the fuselage is also to help reduce the aircraft's detectability. The manufacturer has also provided for an 80 kW electrical installation. It is to supply energy to, among others, electronic warfare systems, radar, and equipment used for reconnaissance, observation and surveillance. This shows that the X-BAT is to be not only a weapons carrier, but also a platform equipped with advanced sensors and electronic systems. The Hivemind system is to be responsible for controlling the aircraft, which is to enable drones to perform some tasks without constant operator direction. This concerns the use of artificial intelligence to make decisions during missions, the cooperation of multiple platforms, and operation in an environment where communication with a human may be limited or jammed. X-BAT trials are to begin in 2026. The X-BAT program is still at the development stage. Shield AI announces the start of flight tests in 2026. This means that we are talking about a design that is not yet a mature, serially produced combat machine. From Poland's point of view, however, this also has an advantage. The possible entry of domestic companies into the program at a relatively early stage gives the opportunity to participate not only in the production of the finished design, but also in its further development. That is precisely why future agreements will be so important, the conclusion of which is announced by the signed letter of intent. Only they will show whether Poland receives a real share in the program, what technologies can be transferred to domestic companies, and what part of the work will be carried out on the Vistula.

Shield AI co-founder and president Brandon Tseng discussed the US defence startup's growth strategies and expansion plans in Asia-Pacific markets during an interview with Bloomberg's "The Asia Trade". Tseng outlined how the company is ramping up its presence and offerings across the APAC region. Shield AI develops autonomous systems for defence applications. The company is focusing on expanding its footprint in international markets as part of its broader growth strategy. No specific financial details or expansion timelines were disclosed in the interview.