Shield AI's X-BAT is a runway-independent, tail-sitting VTOL autonomous combat jet flown by the company's Hivemind AI pilot — a claimed 3,700+ km range from a trailer launcher, no runway required, with first flight planned for late 2026 and a production pitch to Poland.
Helsing's AI-piloted combat drone — Europe's bid for sovereign autonomous airpower. One low-observable jet, flown by the Centaur AI pilot, in a strike version (CA-1KA) and an escort-jammer version (CA-1EA) pitched as the European answer to the Growler. Nothing has flown yet.
Shield AI's "AI pilot" — software that flies aircraft and drones with no remote pilot, no GPS and no datalink, and swarms them under one operator. It cued a strike on a Russian Buk deep in jammed territory, and in June 2026 won a US Air Force production contract for the drone-wingman program.