Shield AI Promotes V-BAT UAS System

Our Bureau - : Jan 20, 2026 - : 11:31 pm

San Diego-based Shield AI, which has seen increasing demand across regions for its solutions, is showcasing the capabilities of the V-BAT at the ongoing show.

The V-BAT is the only single-engine ducted-fan vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operationally deployed across multiple regions worldwide. The UAS’ compact footprint and ability to launch and recover in confined spaces make it ideal for shipborne and austere environments, ensuring flexibility and resilience in complex missions. According to the company, its performance in regions like Ukraine, the Black Sea, and the Indo-Pacific demonstrates its ability to withstand advanced electronic warfare threats that have grounded many traditional drones.

The V-BAT can operate without runways in constrained environments, making it ideal for maritime, expeditionary, and GPS/comm-denied environments. The autonomous flight in GPS or communications-denied environments is made possible by the company’s Hivemind software. The UAS has beyond line of sight (BLOS) capability. The 9-foot platform, which is capable of and carrying up to 25 pounds of cargo, can be deployed in as few as 20 minutes by two specialists. The UAS has a maximum speed of 56 miles per hour, endurance of more than 12 hours, and a service ceiling of 20,000 feet.

In July 2024, the company was awarded a US$198 million U.S. Coast Guard contract to provide V-BAT for maritime ISR. The UAS successfully passed operational testing in August last year. The system has been deployed on various U.S. Navy ships, including Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and dock-landing ships. V-BAT is part of the U.S. Army's Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) competition (Increment 2) to replace the RQ-7B Shadow and also been deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs).

The UAS is in demand internationally as well. In January last year, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) selected V-BAT as its first-ever ship-based ISR platform, to be deployed on JMSDF patrol vessels to enhance maritime domain awareness and intelligence gathering in the Indo-Pacific region. In July last year, Shield AI announced the procurement of eight V-BAT systems by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence to enhance maritime ISR operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps. Indian firm JSW Defence has partnered with Shield AI to locally produce the V-BAT in Hyderabad, India. Production is expected to start later this year.

The company, founded in 2016, has offices in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), besides San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Boston.