Shield AI names Kansas and Washington as flight test and production homes for X-BAT fighter jet
BrettKrieger12 · x · 2026-09-30
Shield AI has designated X-Forge 2 in Newton, Kansas as the flight test, acceptance and sustainment home for X-BAT, its AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet, and X-Forge 3 in Des Moines, Washington as its first production site, joining X-Forge 1 in Frisco, Texas.
The company projects the two states will support roughly 9,800 American jobs by the early 2030s and add about $78 billion to the Newton and Seattle economies through 2046. Shield AI has signed its lease for hangar space and 10 acres at Newton City/County Airport and is building out the production site now.
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