The AVEN thrust vectoring nozzle has been added to the AI-manned X-BAT fighter with vertical take-off capability. Thrust vectoring allows the aircraft’s exhaust gases to be redirected instead of relying solely on controlling the airflow through the wings for propulsion. The engine was first tested on the F-16 fighter jet in the 1990s. Shield AI said the AI-powered X-BAT fighter is based on a variant of the jet engine first developed more than 35 years ago and tested on the General Dynamics F-16 aircraft in the 1990s. AVEN, an axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle, essentially replicates the actions of a wing, but instead of manipulating airflow through an airfoil, it directs the exhaust in a process called thrust vectoring. The nozzle, developed for the F-16 as part of GE Aerospace’s multi-axis thrust vectoring (MATV) research program, has proven its effectiveness. This technology has recently been revived by GE Aerospace and Shield AI, where AVEN is paired with the F110-GE-129E engine. Latest videos fromTechRadar X-BAT requires AVEN for vertical takeoff and landing Using an axisymmetric vector control exhaust nozzle, the X-BAT achieves flight capabilities that would require humans to endure repeated endurance. It allows you to hover while also providing superhuman reaction speed and eliminating the risk of unconsciousness caused by g-forces. Without pilot fatigue, the X-BAT can perform extreme maneuvers in dogfights. Designed as a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the X-BAT can be deployed in areas with little or no runway. A key part of this is the axisymmetric vectored exhaust nozzle, which provides the necessary thrust for the X-BAT to take off. Since the ship’s launch is more like a rocket than a standard fighter jet, the AVEN and the F110-GE-129E engine appear to provide a stable separation from the launch dock as the X-BAT heads into the sky. This setup may resemble something out of a 1950s sci-fi comic, but in reality it can only operate successfully without a human pilot. AVEN is not unique to X-BAT. While GE Aerospace’s project with the F-16 proved the technology worked, it has been implemented elsewhere, most notably with the Russian Su-27SM, a 2002 modification. Earlier aircraft, such as Harrier variants, use “2D thrust vectoring”, where thrust is directed horizontally or vertically through exhaust pipes on both sides of the aircraft. Indeed, the concept of thrust vectoring dates back to the V-2 rocket, a long-range missile used by Nazi Germany in the final months of World War II. Sign up for the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, views, features and advice your business needs to succeed! AVEN modernization Shield AI and GE Aerospace didn’t just stick with the original AVEN hardware and not attach it to the F110-GE-129E engine. The nozzle has been modernized using modern materials and production technologies. Inevitably, it has also been adapted to work with 21st century guidance systems, and artificial piloting and control systems have been introduced. The X-BAT’s first test flights are expected to take place in Kansas by the end of 2026, ahead of operational verification and full production planned for 2028. Follow TechRadar on Google News. And add us as your preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Post navigation 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Rankings, Mocks & Analysis Diesel fuel hits record levels as Trump’s forever war on Iran continues