Des Moines chosen for new unmanned fighter jet facility

San Diego-based Shield AI has signed a lease to build unmanned fighter jets called the X-BAT at a 420,000-square-foot facility in Des Moines, with production expected to begin in 2029. The project could bring over $300 million in direct investment and hundreds of high-paying jobs to the region, though some Des Moines residents and city council members have raised concerns about manufacturing weapons and autonomous AI systems. King County’s established aerospace workforce and supplier base made the Puget Sound region attractive to Shield AI.