Shield AI V-BAT
Shield AI's ducted-fan VTOL tail-sitter – a runway-independent ISR and targeting drone that proved it can operate deep inside Russian electronic warfare and cue precision fires for Ukrainian forces.
Shield AI describes V-BAT's April 2025 upgrade as a vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft with a heavy-fuel engine, satellite communications and optional Hivemind Pilot integration.
Overview
Shield AI lists V-BAT with an 18.1 kg payload capacity and endurance exceeding 12 hours with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) payload. Shield AI says its April 2025 upgrade introduced a JP-5-optimised engine, satellite communications (SATCOM) and fully unassisted vertical takeoff and landing. The company describes that upgrade as Hivemind Pilot-ready, with operators able to integrate the software, rather than identifying Hivemind as installed on every upgraded aircraft, according to Shield AI's announcement. For the Indian Army programme, Shield AI explicitly announced selection of both V-BAT aircraft and Hivemind autonomy software licences.
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