The F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan will likely be geared up with the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle to offer thrust vectoring throughout VTOL operations and flight.
Defend AI introduced on Nov. 5, 2025 it has chosen GE Aerospace’s F110-GE-129 engine because the powerplant for its X-BAT AI (Synthetic Intelligence)-powered VTOL (Vertical Take-Off Touchdown) fighter. Moreover, Defend AI says the engine may also function GE’s Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) to offer the required thrust vectoring on the vertical flight.
The F110-GE-129 powers the F-16 from the Block 50 onward, the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-15K Slam Eagle, the F-15SA, the F-15QA and the F-15EX. The engine is Full Authority Digital Engine Management (FADEC)-capable, with an intermediate thrust of 76.3 kN and full afterburner thrust of 131.2 kN.
Defend AI + @GE_Aerospace: X-BAT hauls ass and sips gasoline.
The F110-GE-129 engine, that includes GE’s Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN), has been chosen to propel X-BAT, Defend AI’s AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet. With greater than 11 million flight hours, the F110 delivers the… pic.twitter.com/CHRWm1erXl
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) November 5, 2025
The event started within the mid-Eighties when the Air Power wanted an engine to provide a thrust within the 129 kN class, whereas retaining the sturdiness and reliability of the F100-PW-220 and F110-GE-100 engines. The work resulted within the start of the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 and the GE F110-GE-129.
F110-GE-129 for X-BAT
The joint assertion stated that the F110-GE-129 geared up with AVEN will propel the X-BAT AI-powered VTOL fighter jet. “With greater than 11 million flight hours, the F110 delivers probably the most thrust in its class and displays 40 years of steady manufacturing and enchancment, pairing confirmed efficiency with Defend AI’s superior autonomy and progressive plane design,” the corporate stated on X.
The MoU signed between Defend AI and GE Aerospace will contain the latter offering “propulsion and testing assist for the X-BAT program.” Defend AI additionally launched a video exhibiting a floor check of the F110-GE-129, however the video ends simply after the engine begins and the nozzle expands.
X-BAT represents a brand new period of airpower.
“What it does is it mainly brings the potential of one thing like an F-35 or a comparable fifth-gen [fighter], places it in a vertical takeoff and touchdown bundle, after which delivers it at a tenth of the fee, life-cycle[-wise] of a… pic.twitter.com/ML3bJ6RkYK
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 22, 2025
“The Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle (AVEN) for X-BAT offers thrust vectoring functionality for vertical flight and enhances maneuverability in horizontal flight,” the assertion stated. AVEN’s variable geometry is thus used throughout varied phases of flight, and never solely throughout VTOL operations.
The world’s first AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet.
Autonomy for the world. The best victory requires no struggle.#XBAT #Autonomy #Airpower pic.twitter.com/4VGJw5i6ft
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 24, 2025
GE Aerospace’s President and CEO of Protection Methods Amy Gowder stated they are going to use “GE Aerospace’s confirmed expertise in creating and scaling propulsion methods with Defend AI’s automobile improvement to maneuver quicker from idea to functionality.” Moreover, Gowder stated “Collectively, we’re serving to redefine how superior propulsion applied sciences are built-in into autonomous methods constructed for the mission. Collaborating with Defend AI underscores GE Aerospace’s dedication to advancing propulsion for next-generation autonomous methods.”
Defend AI’s Senior Vice President of Plane Engineering Armor Harris stated: “GE Aerospace’s F110 engine is without doubt one of the most profitable and dependable fighter engines in historical past and has the operability traits that X-BAT’s VTOL design calls for. GE Aerospace has been a fantastic associate, and we’re excited by the potential of our mixed staff.”
Create infinite dilemmas for adversaries.
Autonomy for the world. The best victory requires no struggle. #XBAT #Autonomy #Airpower pic.twitter.com/NrSipVa8Sh
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 27, 2025
X-BAT
Defend AI unveiled the X-BAT on Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C., and describes it as an “AI-piloted vertical take-off and touchdown (VTOL) fighter jet by Defend AI engineered for contested and austere environments.” X-BAT has been proven within the idea video to have the ability to function off plane carriers, amphibious assault ships, warships, cargo ships and unimproved austere land bases, needing solely a 100 ft x 100 ft area and a specialised TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher), with an unidentified docking mechanism for touchdown.
“Powered by Defend AI’s confirmed Hivemind autonomy software program, X-BAT delivers scalable, survivable fight mass in contested environments and may function independently or as a drone wingman,” the corporate stated. The software program is presently being examined on a sequence of different developmental autonomous air fight tasks, together with GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger, Scaled Composites’ Mannequin 437 Vanguard, the Airbus MQ-72C, Anduril’s YFQ-44A CCA, and was lately additionally examined on the BQM-117A and Airbus DT-25 goal drones.
The requirement fits the current acute want within the U.S. Air Power to make up for the unprecedented shortfall in Gen. 4 and Gen. 4.5 fighter numbers. CCAs have been envisioned not as substitutes that may supplant manned jets, however complement the numbers for the longer term high-end struggle with China within the western Pacific.
The way forward for autonomous airpower shouldn’t be an idea – it’s being constructed proper now.
Autonomy for the world. The best victory requires no struggle. pic.twitter.com/Eu6uStEgZh
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 28, 2025
As we now have mentioned in earlier studies, amount is a high quality of its personal, and even comparatively much less superior jets which can be indigenously developed with native and dependable provide chains permit sustaining longer conflicts. Defend AI plans the primary vertical take-off check for the X-BAT in 2026, a full system flight testing and operational validation in 2028 and launch of manufacturing by 2029.
The X-BAT has been proven in renditions to have the ability to autonomously conduct Fight Air Patrols (CAP) and launch AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-174 Gunslinger medium- and long-range missiles at targets. This implies the Hivemind AI agent would be capable to autonomously discriminate targets primarily based on markers like an unfamiliar radar signature or Identification Pal or Foe (IFF) tones.
X-BAT is proving that pace, autonomy, and ingenuity will redefine airpower.
Autonomy for the world. The best victory requires no struggle. pic.twitter.com/ThMi96tLsW
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 29, 2025
The plane has a entrance air consumption, with probably radar and electronic-warfare sensor arrays on the higher and decrease surfaces of the nostril and wings’ main edges, with the avionics on the dorsal part. The evidently bulging ventral part hosts the weapons payload.
The drone has additionally been proven having the ability to function the AGM-158 – both the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile) or LRASM (Lengthy-Vary Anti-Ship Missile), and the AGM-154 JSOW (Joint Stand-Off Weapon). The absence of a touchdown gear permits for extra space for inner weapons shops.
Defend AI has additionally unveiled some extra footage of the X-BAT, after the idea was unveiled on Oct. 22. One full-size scale mannequin within the consultant pre-VTOL launch place already exists.
First flight 2026. Manufacturing 2029.
Autonomy for the world. The best victory requires no struggle. pic.twitter.com/pg6wHNWKWf
— Defend AI (@shieldaitech) October 29, 2025
One other mannequin is inside a wind tunnel testing facility present process airflow exams, whereas the opposite is in an anechoic chamber. Footage from Defend AI’s facility additionally exhibits precision laser measurements processes on the primary airframe, and part of the wing being carted to be assembled with the fuselage.
