Advancements in Drone Technology
Startups and defense giants like Lockheed Martin are investing in a new generation of drones, including autonomous fighter jets like Shield AI’s Xbat, which is powered by an AI system called Hivemind and has capabilities to fly long distances and carry munitions, marking a shift in the modern battlefield and paving the way for a future filled with autonomous systems.
Key Developments and Investments
Shield AI is developing advanced drones, including the VBAT, an intelligence and surveillance drone with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, which has been successfully deployed and secured a nearly $200 million contract with the US Coast Guard. The company is now working on the XBAT, an AI-piloted airplane with vertical takeoff, launch, and land capabilities, which can be equipped with missiles for combat and aims to save the lives of service members with pilot-free aircraft.
- The XBAT’s first subsystem flights are expected in 2026, with full system flights in 2027, and production is planned for 2029.
- To ensure the aircraft’s design is viable, Shield is conducting wind tunnel testing on a 17% scale model, allowing for adjustments to be made before building the full-scale aircraft.
Industry Outlook and Growth
The industry is expected to accelerate with government support, such as an executive order to commercialize drone technologies and integrate them into the national airspace system, with billions of dollars allocated for development. The US plans to field millions of drones, which will rely on AI and autonomy due to the impossibility of training millions of drone pilots.
- The cost of producing these drones, estimated at $27 million, is a fraction of the cost of traditional fighter jets, especially when considering the costs of training pilots, which can exceed $10 million per pilot for an F-35 fighter jet.
- Lockheed Martin has a contract to deliver nearly 300 F-35s to the US military and international customers.
Safety and Security Concerns
The rapid advancement of AI raises concerns about job replacement, security threats, and the potential for AI-powered weapon systems to be used for malicious purposes. A former Navy Seal emphasizes that autonomous systems should not make moral decisions about lethal force, aligning with Shield AI, US military, and NATO policies.
However, in 2024, a safety incident occurred where a US service member’s fingers were partially severed during a drone landing accident, reportedly due to the company overlooking safety precautions. Since then, the company has focused on prioritizing safety and rebuilding customer confidence.
Global Implications and Future Directions
The number of countries with armed drones has increased from 3 in 2010 to 118 in 2025, and they have become a crucial part of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine and the Middle East. China is benefiting from this drone arm race as both Ukraine and Russia are using Chinese components.
Shield AI is a CNBC Disruptor 50 company, recognized for shaping the new generation of AI, and while taking the company public is a long-term goal, there is no rush to do so, with timing to be carefully considered for the benefit of shareholders.
Summary Jigsaw
Drag and drop the sentences below to put them back in the correct order.
- The industry is expected to accelerate with government support, such as an executive order to commercialize drone technologies and integrate them into the national airspace system, with billions of dollars allocated for development. The US plans to field millions of drones, which will rely on AI and autonomy due to the impossibility of training millions of drone pilots.
- Shield AI is a CNBC Disruptor 50 company, recognized for shaping the new generation of AI, and while taking the company public is a long-term goal, there is no rush to do so, with timing to be carefully considered for the benefit of shareholders.
- Startups and defense giants like Lockheed Martin are investing in a new generation of drones, including autonomous fighter jets like Shield AI’s Xbat, which is powered by an AI system called Hivemind and has capabilities to fly long distances and carry munitions, marking a shift in the modern battlefield and paving the way for a future filled with autonomous systems.
- The number of countries with armed drones has increased from 3 in 2010 to 118 in 2025, and they have become a crucial part of modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine and the Middle East. China is benefiting from this drone arm race as both Ukraine and Russia are using Chinese components.
- However, in 2024, a safety incident occurred where a US service member’s fingers were partially severed during a drone landing accident, reportedly due to the company overlooking safety precautions. Since then, the company has focused on prioritizing safety and rebuilding customer confidence.
- Shield AI is developing advanced drones, including the VBAT, an intelligence and surveillance drone with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, which has been successfully deployed and secured a nearly $200 million contract with the US Coast Guard. The company is now working on the XBAT, an AI-piloted airplane with vertical takeoff, launch, and land capabilities, which can be equipped with missiles for combat and aims to save the lives of service members with pilot-free aircraft.
- The rapid advancement of AI raises concerns about job replacement, security threats, and the potential for AI-powered weapon systems to be used for malicious purposes. A former Navy Seal emphasizes that autonomous systems should not make moral decisions about lethal force, aligning with Shield AI, US military, and NATO policies.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous | /ɔːˈtɒnəməs/ | Having the freedom to act independently, without external control. | The autonomous fighter jet can fly and make decisions on its own without human intervention. |
| Munitions | /mjuːˈnɪʃənz/ | Weapons, especially bombs and missiles, used by the military. | The drone is capable of carrying munitions for combat missions. |
| Surveillance | /sərˈveɪləns/ | The act of carefully watching or monitoring someone or something. | The drone is used for surveillance and intelligence gathering in the battlefield. |
| Vertical Takeoff | /ˈvɜːtɪkəl ˈteɪkɒf/ | The ability of an aircraft to take off straight up from the ground. | The VBAT drone has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. |
| Wind Tunnel | /ˈwɪnd ˈtʌnəl/ | A device used to test the aerodynamics of an object by blowing air past it. | The company is conducting wind tunnel testing on a scale model of the XBAT to ensure its design is viable. |
| Commercialize | /kəˈmɜːʃəlaɪz/ | To make something available for sale or use by the general public. | The government has issued an executive order to commercialize drone technologies. |
| Integrate | /ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/ | To combine two or more things to form a single system or whole. | The plan is to integrate drones into the national airspace system. |
| Malicious | /məˈlɪʃəs/ | Having or showing a wish to do harm to someone or something. | There are concerns that AI-powered weapon systems could be used for malicious purposes. |
| Lethal | /ˈliːθəl/ | Causing or capable of causing death. | Autonomous systems should not make moral decisions about lethal force. |
| Disruptor | /dɪˈsrʌptə/ | A person or thing that causes a disturbance or interruption, especially in a market or industry. | Shield AI is recognized as a CNBC Disruptor 50 company for shaping the new generation of AI. |
| Shareholders | /ˈʃɛəhəʊldəz/ | People who own shares in a company. | The company is considering the timing of going public to benefit its shareholders. |
| Subsystem | /ˈsʌbsɪstəm/ | A system that is part of a larger system. | The XBAT’s first subsystem flights are expected in 2026. |
| Aerodynamics | /ˌɛərəʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/ | The study of the interaction between air and solid objects, such as aircraft. | The company is testing the aerodynamics of the XBAT in a wind tunnel. |
| Executive Order | /ˌɛɡzɪˈkjʊtɪv ˈɔːrdə/ | A official instruction or command given by a person in authority, such as a president. | The government has issued an executive order to commercialize drone technologies. |
| National Airspace | /ˌnæʃənəl ˈɛərspɛɪs/ | The airspace above a country, including all the air routes and airports. | The plan is to integrate drones into the national airspace system. |
| Artificial Intelligence | /ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/ | The development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. | The XBAT is powered by an AI system called Hivemind. |
| Autonomy | /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ | The state of being self-governing or independent. | The drone has autonomy to make decisions and fly on its own. |
| Combat | /ˈkɒmbæt/ | A fight or battle, especially one between armed forces. | The XBAT can be equipped with missiles for combat. |
| Missiles | /ˈmɪsɪlz/ | A weapon that is propelled through the air or space to hit a target. | The XBAT can be equipped with missiles for combat. |
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Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment. It is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb ‘has/have’ + ‘been’ + the present participle of the main verb (e.g., ‘has been investing’). This tense is often used to show the duration of an action or to describe an action that has a connection to the present.
In the context of the provided text, the present perfect continuous tense can be seen in sentences such as ‘Startups and defense giants like Lockheed Martin are investing in a new generation of drones…’, which could be rephrased as ‘have been investing’ to emphasize the ongoing nature of the investment.
