Poland is acquiring Shield AI’s V-BAT uncrewed aerial vehicles to support the Polish Navy’s maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
The vertical takeoff and landing drone, already proven in Ukraine, will be fielded on an unspecified Polish naval vessel.
An undisclosed quantity will be delivered by year-end, as per Poland’s Armaments Agency.
With rising security threats in the Baltic Sea, the V-BAT drone can “serve as a force multiplier for Poland, Baltic Sea nations, and NATO,” according to Shield AI President and Co-founder Ryan Tseng.
Made for Contested Environments
Shield AI designed and developed the V-BAT drone to sustain operations in highly contested electronic warfare environments.
Its ducted-fan design enables vertical takeoff and landing from ship decks, urban rooftops, and other austere locations without requiring a runway or launch equipment.
Powered by a heavy fuel engine, the V-BAT has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 161 pounds (73 kilograms), a payload capacity of 40 pounds (18 kilograms), and endurance exceeding 12 hours.
The drone measures nearly 10 feet (3 meters) tall and has a wingspan of 12.5 feet (3.8 meters).
V-BAT has been in service with or ordered by several other countries, including Armenia, the Netherlands, Romania, and the US.
