Shield AI announced its X-BAT has been named the Official Autonomous Aircraft of the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, one of the most storied rivalries in American sports. Shield AI also joins as an Associate Sponsor of America’s Game. The 127th meeting of the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Army Black Knights and the United States Naval Academy’s Navy Midshipmen will take place Dec. 12, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
X-BAT will serve as Shield AI’s flagship aircraft for the sponsorship. X-BAT is an AI-piloted, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fighter jet designed for expeditionary and maritime operations in contested environments, powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software. It combines VTOL with a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles at full mission payload, letting it operate from ships, remote islands, or austere sites with no runway required.
Shield AI joins presenting sponsor USAA, participating partners Chevrolet, Exchange, Duke Cannon Supply Co. and Palantir, and associate sponsor The American Legion in supporting Army-Navy. Shield AI will have a prominent presence throughout Army-Navy Game week, with additional fan experiences and programming to be announced ahead of kickoff. The announcement comes as Shield AI sponsors Tailhook’s Hook ’26, the naval aviation symposium held annually in Reno.
For more information, visit shield.ai.
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