Facts

• Company: Shield AI
• Product type: UAV
• Status: commercial
• Capability focus: Generalist
• Website: https://shield.ai/v-bat/

Profile sections

• Summary
• Overview
• Market context
• Audience
• Workflow
• Capability
• Deployment environment
• Positioning tags
• Specifications
• Tags
• Record / Articles
• Timeline / Research
• Operations Claims / Customers and deployments
• Comparable Systems
• Sources

Summary

V-BAT is Shield AI vertical-takeoff fixed-wing UAS for defense missions. It combines runway-free launch and recovery with fixed-wing endurance for ISR, targeting and maritime or land operations in environments where infrastructure is limited.

Overview

V-BAT is Shield AI vertical-takeoff fixed-wing UAS for defense missions. It combines runway-free launch and recovery with fixed-wing endurance for ISR, targeting and maritime or land operations in environments where infrastructure is limited.

Market context

Shield AI says V-BAT is a Group 3 VTOL UAS for ISR and targeting, with a max payload of 40 lb, 13+ hours endurance, fully unassisted launch and landing, operation in winds up to 25 kts and moving ship speed of 10 kts, deployment in under 30 minutes by a 2-person team, and operation from landing zones as small as 4.

• Target environment: Defence operational environments, austere field sites and shipborne decks.
• Workflow context: Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting in environments where runway-independent launch and recovery are critical.
• Customer context: Defence customers including military ISR units, naval operators and special operations teams.
• Deployment model: Deployed defence product with active procurement programs.
• Commercial maturity: Deployed platform with active defence procurement and field use.
• Adoption constraints: Defence procurement cycles and export controls are the primary adoption constraints.
• Market position: A reference VTOL UAV for tactical ISR in contested environments. Distinct from larger MALE UAVs by its shipborne and austere-site deployment capability.
• Adjacent products: Skydio X10 (ISR workflow overlap), tactical ISR UAVs, Group 3 VTOL systems

Audience

Defense

Workflow

Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting in environments where runway-independent launch and recovery are critical.

Capability

generalist

Deployment environment

Defence operational environments, austere field sites and shipborne decks.

Positioning tags

• Audience: Defense
• Workflow: Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting in environments where runway-independent launch and recovery are critical.
• Capability: generalist
• Deployment environment: Defence operational environments, austere field sites and shipborne decks.

Specifications

• Propulsion: Ducted-fan propulsion with no exposed rotors
• Launch Recovery: Fully unassisted vertical takeoff and landing
• Operational Role: Expeditionary VTOL UAV for military ISR and mission operations
• Task Scope: ISR, expeditionary operations, and military unmanned aircraft missions
• Payload Capacity Kg: 18.14 kg
• Mtow Kg: 73 kg
• Wingspan: 12.5 ft / 3.8 m wingspan
• Dimensions: 9.6 ft / 2.9 m height; 15 ft x 15 ft / 4.6 m x 4.6 m landing zone
• Endurance: 12+ hr max endurance with EO/IR payload
• Range: 81 mi / 130 km with MPU5; 112 mi / 180 km with C-band radio
• Communications: SATCOM BLOS option and mobile command-and-control integration
• Wind Tolerance: Launch and land in winds up to 25 kt and moving ship speed of 10 kt
• Payload Options: Modular payloads including EO/IR, SAR, AIS, SATCOM, GNSS anti-jam, laser range finder and laser target designator options

Tags

• Peer Group: Defence VTOL UAV
• Workflow: Drone ISR
• Capability: Remote operation
• Deployment Environment: Defence operational environment
• Stack Layer: Finished robot platform
• Commercial Stage: Deployed platform
• Market Signal: Defence procurement signal

Record / Articles

• 2026-03-06 - Article - Shield AI is turning autonomy software into a defence aircraft company

Timeline / Research

• 2026-06-23 - Contract Award - Poland signs $16 million contract for Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT UAVs - The contract covers several MQ-35 V-BAT platforms for delivery to the Polish Navy by the end of 2026.
• 2026-05-19 - Contract Award - Shield AI selected to integrate Hivemind autonomy on LUCAS combat drone program - Shield AI secured a Pentagon contract to integrate Hivemind autonomy software onto the Low-Cost Uncrewed Co…
• 2026-03-03 - Capability - Shield AI's V-BAT proves cold weather capabilities in NATO's arena HEIMDALL exercise - Shield AI says V-BAT proved cold-weather capabilities in NATO's arena HEIMDALL exercise
• 2026-01-28 - Contract Award - Shield AI selected to provide V-BAT and Hivemind to the Indian Army - The Indian Army selected Shield AI to supply V-BAT aircraft together with Hivemind autonomy software.
• 2025-10-21 - Deployment - V-BAT supports ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025 - Shield AI says V-BAT supported ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025
• 2025-08-06 - Deployment - Shield AI completes successful V-BAT deployment supporting border and emergency operations with Frontex in eastern Europe - Shield AI says V-BAT has been operational in Europe under a Frontex c…
• 2025-07-31 - Capability - Shield AI's new V-BAT passes operational evaluation with U.S. Coast Guard - Shield AI says the new V-BAT passed operational evaluation with the U.S. Coast Guard
• 2025-07-08 - Contract Award - Netherlands Ministry of Defence selects V-BAT - The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected V-BAT to support the country's Navy and Marine Corps.
• 2025-04-17 - Deployment - Shield AI surpasses 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces - Shield AI says V-BAT has surpassed 130 sorties in Ukraine
• 2025-04-07 - Capability - Shield AI unveils V-BAT block upgrade powered by Hivemind - Shield AI announced a major V-BAT upgrade that added a new autonomy package alongside other system improvements.
• 2025-04-01 - Capability - Shield AI's V-BAT successfully demonstrates resilience to electronic warfare at Project Convergence Capstone 5 - Shield AI says V-BAT demonstrated resilience to electronic warfare at Project Co…
• 2025-01-22 - Contract Award - V-BAT selected by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force selected V-BAT as its first maritime ISR platform.
• 2025-01-16 - Deployment - Shield AI starts training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, establishes local presence in Ukraine - Shield AI starts training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces
• 2024-11-12 - Partnership - JSW Defence and Shield AI forge strategic partnership to bring cutting-edge military aircraft technology to India - Shield AI and JSW Defence announce a strategic partnership
• 2024-07-01 - Contract Award - V-BAT selected for U.S. Coast Guard contract - The U.S. Coast Guard selected V-BAT under a contract worth up to about $198 million for maritime unmanned aircraft system services.

Operations Claims / Customers and deployments

• Procurement Status - V-BAT and Hivemind selected for Indian Army - 2026-01-28 - Indian Army - defense UAS and autonomy procurement - Shield AI was selected to supply V-BAT aircraft together with Hivemind autonomy softwa…
• Active Customer Operations - V-BAT supported U.S. Navy ISR operations during UNITAS 2025 - 2025-10-21 - U.S. Navy - ISR operations - Shield AI's V-BAT supported ISR operations for the U.S. Navy during UNITAS 2025.
• Active Customer Operations - V-BAT missions supporting Frontex border and emergency operations - 2025-08-06 - Frontex - border and emergency operations - Shield AI completed V-BAT missions supporting Frontex border and…
• Selection Status - V-BAT selected for Navy and Marine Corps - 2025-07-08 - Netherlands Ministry of Defence - defense UAS procurement - The Netherlands Ministry of Defence selected Shield AI V-BAT to equip its Navy and M…
• Reported Sorties - 130+ V-BAT sorties in Ukraine - 2025-04-17 - Ukrainian forces - defense UAS operations - Shield AI reported more than 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces.
• Selection Status - V-BAT selected as first maritime ISR platform - 2025-01-22 - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - defense maritime UAS - Shield AI V-BAT was selected as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force first mari…
• Contract Value Usd - $198 million - 2024-07-01 - U.S. Coast Guard - maritime unmanned aircraft services - Shield AI said V-BAT was selected for a $198 million U.S. Coast Guard maritime unmanned aircraft system services…

Comparable Systems

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