V-BAT UAV Upgraded With Heavy Fuel Engine & Advanced Autonomy

Shield AI has unveiled the latest evolution of its combat-proven V-BAT.

The latest iteration of the UAS (unmanned aerial system) offers Group 4 and 5 capabilities in a Group 3 package, and is purpose-built to solve the most challenging operational problems facing the U.S. and its allies, including finding and targeting threats in GPS- and communications-denied environments, securing borders, and enabling persistent maritime surveillance.

V-BAT now utilizes a heavy-fuel engine optimized for JP-5, the most common maritime aircraft fuel, extending its endurance beyond 13 hours while ensuring seamless compatibility with naval and expeditionary operations. Enhancing its unmatched versatility, V-BAT now features a fully unassisted vertical launch and landing (VTOL) capability, eliminating the need for a human operator to assist in takeoff or recovery. It still requires no runway, catapult, or net recovery, and its patented ducted-fan design enables safe, precise landings on moving ships, rooftops, and confined areas—even in high winds and rough seas.

These capabilities have made V-BAT the unmanned aircraft of choice for maritime and expeditionary forces, deploying on nearly every class of U.S. Navy ship and with all seven Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs). The U.S. Coast Guard recently selected V-BAT for a major ISR operations contract, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) named it their first-ever ship-based ISR platform.

V-BAT is Hivemind Pilot-ready, enabling operators to integrate Shield AI’s AI-powered autonomy software for best-in-class perception and cognition. SATCOM integration also provides Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) command and control (C2), allowing operators to conduct missions from anywhere in the world. V-BAT supports multi-payload integration, including ViDAR-enabled passive wide-area motion imagery, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and electronic warfare payloads, expanding operational flexibility across domains.

Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President, Co-founder, and a former Navy SEAL, commented: “The most forward-thinking militaries are swapping out their larger, more expensive ISR aircraft — which are too vulnerable for how much they cost — and accomplishing the same missions with smaller, more affordable drones, like V-BAT. V-BAT is built for the full spectrum of drone missions — from deep-penetration ISR-T where GPS and comms are jammed to border security, search and rescue, and drug interdiction. If there’s a mission out there, V-BAT can do it — faster, cheaper, and where others can’t.”