Shield AI's V-BAT Drone to Support Polish Navy Combat Operations

Shield AI's V-BAT Drone to Support Polish Navy Combat Operations

U.S. defense technology company Shield AI has announced that Poland's Armament Agency has formally signed a contract to procure V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft systems in support of Polish Navy combat operations.

Deployment Mission and Operational Capabilities

The V-BAT fleet will be deployed aboard Polish Navy vessels to provide Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support. This newly acquired capability gives the Polish military a combat-proven, low-cost unmanned support system that enhances commanders' situational awareness of dynamic threats and evolving operational environments.

Official Statement

Ryan Tseng, President, Co-founder, and Chief Strategy Officer of Shield AI, commented: "V-BAT has proven its combat effectiveness in Ukraine and other theaters, particularly in environments where communications and GPS signals are jammed or denied. Security threats against critical energy and communications infrastructure in the Baltic region are increasing, and the operational environment demands sensor platforms and systems that can perform reliably in any weather and sea state — V-BAT meets exactly those requirements. V-BAT will serve as a force multiplier for Poland, the Baltic states, and NATO."

V-BAT Technical Specifications

V-BAT is a NATO Class I VTOL unmanned aircraft system featuring a ducted-fan design with the following technical characteristics:

• Endurance: More than 12 hours
• Propulsion: Heavy-fuel engine
• Design: Single-engine, enclosed-rotor configuration
• Operational environment: Designed, tested, and deployed for electronic warfare (EW) contested environments

V-BAT provides ISR and target designation capabilities at a significantly lower cost and logistical burden compared to NATO Class II and Class III systems. Its enclosed-rotor design enables safe autonomous launch and recovery from ship decks, urban rooftops, and austere environments, making it particularly well-suited for maritime and expeditionary operations.

Growing International Operator Community

With the Polish Navy's adoption, V-BAT's list of operators continues to expand. In Europe, Greece and the Netherlands have already fielded the system, while the U.S. Navy and Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force also operate V-BAT. This latest contract further solidifies V-BAT's strategic position among NATO and allied naval forces.

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