{
  "id": 13118882,
  "title": "US Navy bets another $150M on fighter drone that skips the runway",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/us-navy-bets-another-150m-on-fighter-drone-that-skips-the-runway-13118882",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T12:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register",
    "slug": "the-register",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2026/10/09/us-navy-bets-another-150m-on-fighter-drone-that-skips-the-runway/5302237"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. Navy earmarks extra $150M for autonomous VTOL fighter drone, Shield AI pledges $150M plus own investment. The X-BAT drone, unveiled in Washington DC, targets flight tests and mission capability by 2028, eliminating runway dependency. With 2,000+ nautical mile range and supersonic potential, the tail-sitter design promises enhanced lethality, survivability and combat power for U.S. Naval Aviation. Former naval officer J.J. Cummings leads Shield AI s mission solutions for the Navy. UK Royal Navy also seeks combat drones for carrier operation under Project VANQUISH.",
  "summary": "Shield AI matches the funding as autonomous X-BAT heads toward flight testing later this year",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register Science",
        "title": "US Navy bets another $150M on fighter drone that skips the runway",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/us-navy-bets-another-150m-on-fighter-drone-that-skips-the-runway",
        "published": "2026-10-09T12:44:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}