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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the V-BAT say? It had a shield-ing instinct.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from V-BAT)
V-BAT (MQ-35A)
V-BAT drone lands on USCGC Kimball during RIMPAC
General information
TypeUnmanned aerial vehicle
National origin
United States
ManufacturerShield AI
StatusIn service
Primary userUnited States Navy

The Shield AI MQ-35A V-BAT is an American Group 3 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Martin UAV, now Shield AI. Its single-engine ducted-fan tailsitter design allows it to operate without a runway from ships and confined land sites. The aircraft is used primarily for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions.

The V-BAT has been operationally deployed in multiple regions, including the Black Sea, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. In Ukraine, V-BATs have operated under Russian electronic warfare (EW) conditions and have been used to collect and relay targeting data for artillery strikes.[1][2]

The aircraft has been adopted by military and maritime organizations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its maritime use includes operations from United States Navy and Coast Guard vessels and a 2026 Frontex and Italian Coast Guard trial from the patrol vessel Dattilo in the central Mediterranean.[3]

Design and capabilities

[edit]

The V-BAT's single-engine ducted fan enables it to take off and land vertically in confined spaces and to shift from hover to horizontal flight. Its autonomous software, branded as Shield AI’s Hivemind, includes visual odometry navigation capabilities for operating in GPS and communication denied environments. Its compact design and ability to hover makes it suitable for shipboard operations and confined land areas.[4]

In October 2023, Shield AI announced that the V-BAT had achieved drone-swarming capabilities, using Hivemind AI to enable multi-vehicle coordination and distributed autonomous operations.[5][6]

In April 2025, Shield AI introduced the V-BAT Block 5.3 upgrade, which replaced the earlier gasoline engine with a 33-horsepower heavy-fuel engine compatible with JP-5. The new powerplant increased the aircraft’s maximum payload from 25 to 40 pounds (11.3 to 18.1 kilograms) and improved compatibility with naval and expeditionary fuel systems. The upgrade also incorporated larger fuel tanks, satellite communications, and unassisted vertical takeoff and landing. Shield AI states that the configuration can achieve 12 hours of endurance.

Service history

[edit]

United States

[edit]

In 2021, the United States Navy gave Shield AI a contract to prototype and develop the V-BAT.[7][8] On 21 December 2022, a V-BAT and a Skyways V2.6B UAV made the first unmanned cargo deliveries to a U.S. Navy ship at sea. Each UAV carried a cargo of 22.5 kg for 200 nm (370 km).[9]

In March 2023, the United States Army picked the V-BAT to compete in its Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) competition, Increment 2 to replace the RQ-7B Shadow. Shield AI teamed with Northrop Grumman for the competition.[10]

In July 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded Shield AI a $198 million contract to provide maritime unmanned aircraft system services with the V-BAT. This marked one of the largest contractor-owned, contractor-operated UAV deployments for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).[11]

V-BAT has deployed with Marine expeditionary units.[12][13]

In December 2024, Shield and Palantir Technologies announced the deepening of their strategic partnership and deployment of Palantir's Warp Speed for V-BAT manufacturing.[14]

V-BAT was subsequently included on the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS Cleared List for operational use. Systems on the list undergo legal, cybersecurity, and supply-chain assessments intended to support military procurement.

Brazil

[edit]

In February 2022, Brazilian company VSK Tactical ordered an undisclosed number of V-BATs for security and monitoring roles.[15]

Greece

[edit]

Four V-BAT aircraft entered service with the Hellenic Armed Forces in May 2025. In June 2026, the Greek parliament approved a €71 million program for ten additional V-BAT systems comprising 20 aircraft, with six systems intended for the Hellenic Army and four for the Hellenic Navy. The acquisition is planned through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

India

[edit]

In November 2024, Shield AI agreed a joint venture with JSW Defense and Aerospace to make and test V-BAT drones in India. Under the deal, JSW is to invest $65 million within the year and a total of $90 million over two years to license technology, establish a "global compliance programme", build a factory, and train personnel.[16][17] The construction of production facility at Maheshwaram near Hyderabad began in December 2025.[18]

In July 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence was in talks with Shield AI to buy V-BAT drones for the Indian Armed Forces. The initial contract will be worth $35 million, which is the upper limit for an emergency procurement contract.[19] As reported by the firm Shield AI on 28 January 2026,[20] the Indian Army has procured the V-BAT drone as well as the license Hivemind autonomy software under an emergency procurement.[18][21]

Japan

[edit]

In January 2025, the V-BAT was selected to operate from warships operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.[22]

Netherlands

[edit]

In July 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Defence bought an initial twelve V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems to improve maritime ISR operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps.[23]

Romania

[edit]

In 2025, it was announced that Romania was to receive a V-BAT system consisting of four drones as a donation from the United States through the Maritime Domain Awareness initiative.[24] The first demonstration of the V-BAT drone in Romania took place on 26 March 2026 aboard the frigate Regina Maria, in the presence of the US Ambassador to Romania and the leadership of the Romanian Ministry of Defense.[25]

The delivery of the first system is to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.[25] Subsequently, a further two systems (eight drones in total) will be acquired by the Romanian Naval Forces through a Government-to-Government contract.[24]

Frontex

[edit]

In 2026, ahead of a Frontex maritime pilot project in the central Mediterranean, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority issued Global Sat Tech a Specific Assurance and Integrity Level III authorization under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Specific Category framework for beyond-visual-line-of-sight maritime operations using V-BAT. The authorization applied to the operator’s approved procedures and designated operating area.

From June to July 2026, two V-BATs operated from the Italian Coast Guard patrol vessel Dattilo during the Frontex pilot project. The aircraft completed 150 flight hours over 19 days and operated simultaneously for a combined 20 hours per day at peak tempo. Flights reached distances of 150 kilometers from the ship, and the trial included a search-and-rescue simulation in which a V-BAT located a small inflatable boat.

Operators

[edit]

Future operators

[edit]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

In April 2024, a V-BAT partially severed three fingers of a US Navy sailor who was helping it to land. Following this incident, US military customers imposed restrictions on its flight, while they investigated this matter for several months. Later, Shield AI modified the V-BAT so that it no longer required human assistance to launch and land.[44]

In June 2026, Reuters reported that 50 of 200 upgraded V-BATs operated by Shield AI had been destroyed in accidents.[45]

Specifications

[edit]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 12.5 ft (3.8 m)
  • Wingspan: 9.6 ft (2.9 m)
  • Gross weight: 165 lb (75 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Heavy Fuel Engine (JP5)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 56 mph (90 km/h, 49 kn)
  • Endurance: 12+ hours
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)

Avionics
Electro-optical (EO)/Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras

Derivations

[edit]

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) subsidiary Chengdu Aircraft Corporation has developed Yunying-25 (Cloud Shadow-25), which Janes described as "externally similar" to the V-BAT. It was first publicly displayed in February 2026. While the developer stated that it is for civilian operations such as urban monitoring, industrial inspection, and emergency response, Janes noted that "its similarity to V-BAT suggests potential military applications, including shipboard surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, and border patrol."[46]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Tucker, Patrick (31 October 2024). "US-made jam-resistant drones helped Ukrainians cut through Russia EW". Defense One. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "American Drone Startup Notches Rare Victory in Ukraine". The Wall Street Journal. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Frontex and Italy complete trial of the largest drones the Agency has yet flown from a patrol ship". Frontex. 17 July 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "V-BAT 128 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), US". Airforce Technology. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Shield AI unveils V-BAT teams drone swarm tech with eye to replicator". Defense News. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Shield AI and Palantir Technologies Deepen Strategic Partnership and Announce Deployment of Warp Speed". Shield AI. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  7. ↑ "US Navy selects Martin UAV's V-BAT for VTOL UAS prototyping effort". Naval Technology. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Martin UAV Kicks Off MTUAS Increment 2 Effort with Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division". UAS Weekly. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  9. ↑ Ryan Finnerty (30 December 2022). "UAVs deliver cargo to US Navy ship at sea for first time". Flight Global. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "US Army Selects Northrop Grumman, Teamed with Shield AI, for Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System Prototype". Northrop Grumman Corporation. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Coast Guard awards contract to procure cutter-based unmanned aircraft system capability". U.S. Coast Guard. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "V-BAT Takes Flight with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Aboard USS Portland". Shield AI. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "US military uses revolutionary V-Bat drone during exercises in Japan". Defence Blog. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  14. ↑ "Palantir Teams Up With Shield AI on AI-Powered Autonomous Aircraft". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Brazil orders V-Bat | Shephard". 8 February 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  16. ↑ Levina (2024-11-26). "Deployed to Israel America's MQ-35A V-BAT Unmanned Aerial Systems Will Now Be Manufactured in India - RESONANT NEWS". RESONANT NEWS. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  17. ↑ Clark, Colin (2024-11-27). "US drone maker Shield AI moves into Indian defense market, joint venture with JSW Group". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  18. 1 2 "Indian Army to procure US firm's autonomous V-BAT drones". The Times of India. 2026-01-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  19. ↑ "India set to build US-origin combat drones at home in rare tech transfer deal". The Economic Times. 2025-07-28. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  20. ↑ "Shield AI Selected to Provide V-BAT Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Hivemind Autonomy Software to the Indian Army" (Press release). Shield AI. 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  21. ↑ Chakraborty, Debdutta (2026-01-28). "Indian Army ties up with US drone company that made its name in the Ukraine conflict". ThePrint. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  22. ↑ "Shield AI's V-Bat to operate from Japanese warships - FlightGlobal". 23 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Shield AI V-BAT selected by Netherlands Ministry of Defence to equip Navy and Marine Corps".
  24. 1 2 "România se înarmează cu un nou tip de drone la Marea Neagră. Primul sistem vine anul acesta / Modelul a fost folosit deja în Ucraina". HotNews (in Romanian). 25 February 2025.
  25. 1 2 "Demonstrație a sistemului de aeronave fără pilot V-BAT, în prezența ambasadorului SUA, la bordul fregatei 'Regina Maria'". tvrinfo.ro (in Romanian). 26 March 2026.
  26. ↑ Lucero Heguy, Florencia (15 August 2024). "Estados Unidos donó tres sistemas de drones V-BAT a la Armada de Colombia". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Saumeth, Erich (8 March 2025). "Colombia despliega sus drones V-BAT en la costa pacífica". Infodefensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Minister of National Defence N. Dendias attends the ceremony of incorporation of the V-BAT Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems to the headquarters of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands". Hellenic Republic Ministry of National Defence. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Grup 5 Kopassus Perkuat Lini Intai: Adopsi Drone VTOL V-Bat yang Bisa Diluncurkan dari Bak Truk". Indomiliter (in Indonesian). 7 January 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  30. ↑ Bechmann, Harald (18 December 2025). "Delivery of Shield AI drones for Japan's new patrol ships". Militär Aktuell. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "Nieuwe verkenningsdrone voor marineschepen voor het eerst gebruikt op zee" (in Dutch). Netherlands Ministry of Defence. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  32. ↑ Ștefan Munteanu (15 August 2026). "România primește primele rachete NSM pentru navele de război / Corveta 261 și cele două fregate vor fi înarmate cu noile sisteme". g4media.ro (in Romanian).
  33. ↑ "Cooperare româno-americană în domeniul sistemelor aeriene fără pilot" (in Romanian). Romanian Naval Forces. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Shield AI surpasses 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian forces". Shield AI. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  35. ↑ "US-made jam-resistant drones helped Ukrainians cut through Russia EW". Defense One. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Rivas, Santiago (20 May 2026). "La Armada Argentina incorporará drones Shield AI V-BAT". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "Armenia acquires V-BAT drones from U.S. – Prime Minister". Armenpress. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  38. ↑ Mitsopoulos, Dimitris (12 June 2026). "Greece Approves Acquisition of VICTA Diver Delivery Units and V-BAT Drones". Naval News. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Indian Army to procure US firm's autonomous V-BAT drones". The Times of India. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  40. ↑ Adamowski, Jaroslaw (25 June 2026). "Poland buys V-BAT drones to boost Baltic Sea naval operations". Defense News. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  41. ↑ Brahy, Jérôme (September 1, 2026). "Taiwan prepares largest order of U.S. V-BAT drones to date in $1 billion push against Chinese forces". Army Recognition. Archived from the original on September 2, 2026. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
  42. ↑ 陳, 治程 (August 31, 2026). "海軍四年360億「機密轉公開」 將買280架V-BAT垂直起降無人機". Liberty Times / LTN. Archived from the original on September 2, 2026. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Taiwan AIDC details drone business, 2026 outlook". Taiwan News. 21 August 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "How A Grisly Injury Threw A $5 Billion Drone Startup Off Course". Forbes. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  45. ↑ "Drone crashes and severed fingers at a $13 billion Silicon Valley military startup". Reuters. June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Special Report: China advances UAV programmes". Janes. 29 June 2026. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026.

[1]

[edit]

Company website

  1. ↑ Rivas, Santiago (2026-05-20). "La Armada Argentina incorporará drones Shield AI V-BAT". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-05-22.
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