DEPLOY

Buying guide

AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) vs Shield AI V-BAT in 2026

Comparing 2 humanoid robots across availability, pricing, capabilities, and verified deployments. Current as of 2026.

Key differences

On DEPLOY's record, Shield AI V-BAT has more verified real-world deployments (3 versus 1) than AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) as of 2026; DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

  • Shield AI V-BAT has more capabilities independently verified as autonomous (1 vs 0).
  • Shield AI V-BAT has more verified real-world deployments (3 vs 1).
Attribute
Switchblade 600 Loitering missile | Kamikazi drone How it works #loiteringmunition #drones
AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600)View full model page →
Shield AI V-BAT (Shield AI). Image by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Moises Sandoval, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (English Wikipedia lead image, Wikidata Q123253322). Re-hosted on the DEPLOY blob store from the Commons original.
Shield AI V-BATView full model page →
ManufacturerAeroVironmentShield AI
Form factoraerialaerial
Maturityproductionproduction
Autonomy—✓ 1 verified autonomous
Availabilityinternal-onlyenterpriseinternal-onlyenterprise
Price$50,000-$100,000 (analyst estimate)Not announced
Capability claims—
  • flight in GPS- and communications-denied environments (autonomous, verified)
  • Multi-drone autonomous team operations (autonomous, demonstrated-once)
Brain—
Verified deployments1AeroVironment3
Privacy practices——
Sources on file514

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AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600)

Verified changes only. No press-release noise.

Shield AI V-BAT

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Editorial summaries

AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600)

AeroVironment's Switchblade is a family of tube-launched loitering munitions: the Switchblade 300 (anti-personnel) and Switchblade 600 (anti-armor). These are military weapon systems, not consumer products, so there is no consumer price. They are mass-produced and supplied to the US Army under a nearly $1B IDIQ and sent to Ukraine; the US Army program of record is LMAMS (Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System).

As a legacy-prime loitering-munition archetype, the Switchblade is operator-launched and operator-committed to target: it is not a fully autonomous weapon, and the autonomy framing for loitering munitions is cap-flagged honestly. Recorded at production maturity on named contracts and combat fielding.

Shield AI V-BAT

Shield AI's V-BAT (military designation MQ-35) is a Group 3 VTOL fixed-wing ISR and targeting drone that takes off and lands vertically from a small footprint, powered by the Hivemind autonomy stack and built to operate in GPS- and communications-denied environments. Its autonomy is verified-substantive: Hivemind is genuine fielded onboard autonomy, and V-BAT is the new-defense cohort's strongest deployment anchor with two verified deployments on the registry (the US Coast Guard and Ukraine).

The Block upgrade adds SATCOM and a heavy-fuel engine. Shield AI, founded in San Diego in 2015, sells V-BAT as defense procurement equipment on contract; there is no consumer price.

Common questions

How do AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) and Shield AI V-BAT differ?
On DEPLOY's record, Shield AI V-BAT has more verified real-world deployments (3 versus 1) than AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) as of 2026; DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source. Shield AI V-BAT has more capabilities independently verified as autonomous (1 vs 0). Shield AI V-BAT has more verified real-world deployments (3 vs 1).
What is the difference between AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) and Shield AI V-BAT?
AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) and Shield AI V-BAT are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. They differ in maker, maturity, price, verified deployments, and how much of their autonomy is independently verified. See the table above for the full head-to-head; each figure is sourced.
Is AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) or Shield AI V-BAT more autonomous?
Shield AI V-BAT has more capabilities independently verified as autonomous on the DEPLOY registry than AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600). DEPLOY counts a capability as autonomous only when verified at a real deployment, not from a demo or a vendor claim.
Which has more verified deployments, AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) or Shield AI V-BAT?
Shield AI V-BAT has more verified deployments (3) on the DEPLOY registry than AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600) (1). DEPLOY counts a deployment only when confirmed at a named site with a primary source.

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All dronesRegistry Every verified record in the category.AeroVironment Switchblade (300/600)Model The full model page.Shield AI V-BATModel The full model page.AeroVironmentRecord The maker's verified record.Shield AIRecord The maker's verified record.Shield AI HivemindBrain The AI system behind it.

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