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V-BAT (MQ-35A)
V-BAT lands on USS Carter Hall in May 2023
Role	UAVType of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Shield AI
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Navy

V-BAT (MDS Name: MQ-35A) is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle originally developed by Martin UAV, now Shield AI.

Design and Capabilities

The V-BAT features a single-engine ducted fan design, making it uniquely capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) from confined spaces. The UAV transitions seamlessly from hover to horizontal flight, enabling it to perform a wide range of missions. The V-BAT is equipped with advanced autonomy software, including Shield AI’s Hivemind, which allows it to operate in GPS- and communications-denied environments. Additionally, its compact design and ability to hover make it suitable for shipboard operations and confined land areas.

Operational Performance

The V-BAT has been operationally deployed in multiple regions, including the Black Sea, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. It has demonstrated its resilience in challenging environments, including areas with advanced electronic warfare (EW) threats, such as those in Ukraine. Notably, V-BAT has proven its capability to withstand EW attacks that have downed many other UAVs, making it a critical asset for long-range missions.

Major Contracts and Deployments

In late April 2021, the United States Navy selected the V-BAT for prototyping and development.. The company kicked off efforts for this program later that year. .

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

On 21 December 2022, a V-BAT, together with a Skyways V2.6B UAV, made the first unmanned cargo deliveries to a US Navy ship at sea with each UAV carrying a cargo of 22.5 kg 200 nm (370 km) onto a moving ship.

In March 2023, the United States Army announced that the V-BAT had been selected 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.

U.S. Coast Guard Contract (2024): 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 COCO (Contractor Owned, Contractor Operated) UAV deployments for maritime ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance).

V-BAT has deployed with multiple Marine Expeditionary Units.

Manufacturing Partnerships

Shield AI is partnered with JSW Defense and Aerospace to manufacture V-BAT drones in India. The partnership included a $90 million investment for technology transfer, the establishment of a manufacturing facility, and compliance programs to support local and international production demands.

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.

Notable Innovations

In October 2023, Shield AI announced that the V-BAT had achieved drone-swarming capabilities, leveraging Hivemind AI to enable multi-vehicle coordination. This innovation positions the V-BAT as a leading platform for distributed autonomous operations.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: none
• Length: 9 ft (2.7 m)
• Wingspan: 9.7 ft (3.0 m)
• Gross weight: 125 lb (57 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Suter TOA 288 two-cylinder engine

Performance

• Maximum speed: 56 mph (90 km/h, 49 kn)
• Endurance: 10 hours
• Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)

Avionics
electro-optical (EO)/mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras

References

1. "V-BAT 128 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), US". Airforce Technology. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
2. "US-made jam-resistant drones helped Ukrainians cut through Russia EW". Defense One. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
3. "American Drone Startup Notches Rare Victory in Ukraine". The Wall Street Journal. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
4. "US Navy selects Martin UAV's V-BAT for VTOL UAS prototyping effort". Naval Technology. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
5. "Martin UAV Kicks Off MTUAS Increment 2 Effort with Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division". UAS Weekly. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
6. "Brazil orders V-Bat | Shephard". 8 February 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
7. Ryan Finnerty (30 December 2022). "UAVs deliver cargo to US Navy ship at sea for first time". Flight Global. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
8. "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.
9. "Coast Guard awards contract to procure cutter-based unmanned aircraft system capability". U.S. Coast Guard. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
10. "V-BAT Takes Flight with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Aboard USS Portland". Shield AI. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
11. "US military uses revolutionary V-Bat drone during exercises in Japan". Defence Blog. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. "Palantir Teams Up With Shield AI on AI-Powered Autonomous Aircraft". Retrieved 10 December 2024.
15. "Shield AI unveils V-BAT teams drone swarm tech with eye to replicator". Defense News. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
16. "Shield AI and Palantir Technologies Deepen Strategic Partnership and Announce Deployment of Warp Speed". Shield AI. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.

External links

Company website

• Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States
• 2020s United States military reconnaissance aircraft
• Shield AI aircraft
• High-wing aircraft
• Tailsitter aircraft
• Single-engined pusher aircraft
• Ducted fan-powered aircraft
• Single-engined piston aircraft
• Aircraft with fixed quad landing gear
• Aircraft first flown in 2020