Poland Acquires V-BAT Drones to Bolster Baltic Sea Naval Capabilities

[WARSAW] Poland's Ministry of National Defence has signed a contract with California-based defence technology company Shield AI for the procurement of V-BAT unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to support Polish Navy operations.

The announcement came shortly after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that Shield AI had invited Poland to participate in its X-BAT autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) combat aircraft programme, with potential opportunities for partial manufacturing collaboration.

V-BAT to Be Deployed Aboard Polish Navy Vessels

In its official statement, Shield AI confirmed that the V-BAT will be deployed aboard Polish Navy ships to provide maritime domain awareness as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Ryan Tseng, President, Co-founder, and Chief Strategy Officer of Shield AI, commented: "V-BAT has proven itself in Ukraine and elsewhere, particularly in environments where communications and GPS signals are jammed or degraded. Security threats to critical energy and communications infrastructure in the Baltic region are increasing in frequency, and operating in this area demands a reliable sensor platform that can function around the clock across varying sea states."

Delivery Scheduled for 2026

Poland's defence procurement executive agency, the Armament Agency (Agencja Uzbrojenia), stated that "delivery of the system is planned for the second half of 2026, with the complete package comprising several drone platforms."

According to Shield AI, the contract makes Poland the first country on NATO's Eastern Flank to acquire the V-BAT. Warsaw joins a growing list of operators that have already fielded the system, including Greece, the Netherlands, the U.S. Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

A Shield AI spokesperson noted that, beyond the drone airframes themselves, the V-BAT system package includes ground control stations, antennas, spare parts, maintenance equipment, and other operational support assets required to sustain readiness.

Active Pursuit of In-Country Industrial Partnerships

The spokesperson elaborated further: "Shield AI is actively seeking partnerships with Polish industry to support future autonomy technology, aerospace, and defence programmes. We look forward to deepening our engagement with Poland in the coming months and sharing more details."

Poland Accelerates Unmanned Systems Procurement

Since Poland established its "Drone Force" — its newest military branch — in 2025, the country has significantly accelerated procurement of various unmanned systems. Last month, Poland also joined the U.S. Department of Defense's counter-UAS initiative, gaining access to a procurement marketplace that connects partner nations with emerging technology suppliers, further strengthening its defence technology capabilities.

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