X-BAT drone maker looks to Poland as service centre for NATO, PM Tusk says

WARSAW, June 16 (Reuters) - X-BAT drone maker Shield AI wants to set up a Polish servicing centre as well as production in the European country, its Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

Tusk said foreign investors such as Shield AI were attracted not only by cheaper labour but also Poland's talent pool.

"This was also the argument of the Americans from Shield AI, (regarding) a very interesting project, the construction of a regional F-16 engine service centre," Tusk told a press conference, adding that the U.S. company wants to locate this in Poland as a service centre for all of NATO in Europe.

"Their intention is also to cooperate with Poland and produce in Poland for the X-BAT programme. (It's) the world's first autonomous combat aircraft," Tusk said.

Shield AI's X-BAT drone, a conceptual unmanned aircraft which is larger than its current V-BAT, uses a GE Aerospace F110-type engine that also powers F-16 and F-15 fighter jets.

(Reporting by Karol Badohal; Editing by Alexander Smith)