■林國賓
原文：
A new unmanned vertical takeoff and landing （VTOL）platform concept from Shield AI is being positioned as an AI-powered wingman for US military forces.
The fighter-like drone, dubbed X-Bat, will leverage an F-16 class engine to fly more than 2,000 nautical miles （3704 kilometers） at altitudes up to 50,000 feet （15240 meters）. It can also take off without specialized launch equipment such as lift fans.
The X-BAT will include an internal bay that can house air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, while large strike munitions can be mounted on external hardpoints. As a VTOL aircraft, it will not need a runway and can be launched within minutes from ships, remote bases, or mobile platforms to support covert and precision strike missions.
A suite of onboard sensors will also enable the drone to detect and track both aerial and surface targets, while its low-signature frame is intended to help it avoid detection.
"With vertical takeoff and landing, long range, and full autonomy, X-BAT delivers combat power anywhere, anytime," Shield AI stated in a social media post. "This is the future of airpower."
The new concept will be driven by Shield AI’s own Hivemind software, which the company claims will make it the “world’s first” AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet.
中譯：
美國國防科技公司Shield AI近日發表一款無人垂直起降平臺概念，其定位是擔任人工智慧驅動的美軍空中僚機。
該款類似戰鬥機的無人機代號為X-BAT，將採用F-16等級的發動機，航程超過2000浬（約3704公里），飛行高度可達50000呎（約15240公尺），且無需舉升風扇等專門發射設備即可起飛。
X-BAT配備內置彈艙，可容納空對空與空對地武器，外部掛點可掛載大型攻擊彈藥。這款垂直起降戰鬥機，不需要跑道，能在數分鐘內自艦艇、偏遠基地或移動平臺發射，支援隱匿與精確打擊任務。
機上搭載的一系列感測器能同時偵測並追蹤空中與海面目標；其低偵測截面設計亦有助於降低被發現風險。
Shield AI在社群媒體貼文表示：「憑藉垂直起降、長航程與完全自主能力，X-BAT可在任何時間、任何地點進行作戰。這就是空中戰力的未來。」
該概念機將由Shield AI自製的「蜂群式思維」AI軟體驅動，公司宣稱這將使 X-BAT成為「全球首款由AI駕駛的垂直起降戰鬥機」。
─關鍵軍語─
※VTOL：垂直起降
※lift fans：舉升風扇