DEPLOY

Buying guide

Shield AI V-BAT

By Shield AI · aerial

Price
—
Availability
Internal use only (not for retail).
Maturity
production
Real-world use
Yes, 3 verified deployments

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.

Readiness

Shield AI V-BAT is internal use only (not for retail), the 2 capability claims on file are all autonomous with verified, 3 verified deployments are on file, and no incidents are on record.

Availability
internal-only

Internal use only (not for retail).

see evidence →

Price honesty
no-price

No price points on file for Shield AI V-BAT.

see evidence →

Capability honesty
autonomous

2 reviewed claims, all autonomous, verified.

see evidence →

Real-world use
production

Maturity: production. 3 verified deployments in the registry.

see evidence →

Safety record
no-incidents

No incidents on record. 3 verified deployments on file.

What it claims to do

  • flight in GPS- and communications-denied environmentsautonomous· verifiedevidence ↗
  • Multi-drone autonomous team operationsautonomous· demonstrated onceevidence ↗

Price

No reviewed price points on file.

Real-world use

Safety record

No incidents on record. 3 verified deployments on file.

Privacy

No privacy practices disclosed or on file for Shield AI V-BAT.

Specs

type
VTOL fixed-wing
group
Group 3
autonomy
Hivemind
designation
MQ-35
ewResilient
true

What's under the hood

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shield AI V-BAT actually available for purchase?
Not available to consumers. In internal use by Shield AI.Source: Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B to scale Hivemind Enterprise (Mar 6, 2025)
What does the Shield AI V-BAT cost?
Not announced.
Does the Shield AI V-BAT really flight in gps- and communications-denied environments?
Yes, verified. Shield AI V-BAT performs this autonomously.Sources: Precision launch and land capability in the safest and smallest tactical footprint, Built for GPS- and communications-denied environments, V-BAT has demonstrated exceptional performance in contested electromagnetic conditions, V-BAT Teams enables multiple V-BATs to autonomously execute missions in electronically contested environments
Does the Shield AI V-BAT really multi-drone autonomous team operations?
Autonomous mode is claimed. Verification status: demonstrated-once.Source: V-BAT Teams enables multiple V-BATs to autonomously execute missions
Where is the Shield AI V-BAT being used?
Shield AI V-BAT is in use at: San Diego operated by Shield AI, Ukraine (combat zones) operated by Shield AI, and United States operated by Shield AI (2024-07-01).Source: Shield AI
What's the Shield AI V-BAT running on?
Shield AI V-BAT runs on Shield AI Hivemind (foundation-model, production maturity).
Is the Shield AI V-BAT safe?
No incidents on record across 3 verified deployments.
How does the Shield AI V-BAT handle privacy?
No privacy practices disclosed or on file for Shield AI V-BAT.
Who makes the Shield AI V-BAT?
Shield AI V-BAT is made by Shield AI, based in San Diego, California, USA.Source: Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B to scale Hivemind Enterprise (Mar 6, 2025)

Video

PRIMARY SOURCE
Courtesy of Shield AI

Shield AI's presentation of its V-BAT VTOL uncrewed aircraft operating in autonomous teams via its Hivemind autonomy. An ISR platform; swarm and contested-environment claims are Shield AI's.

Manufacturer

Shield AI (registry record: /companies/shield-ai)

Compare side by side

Sources

  1. Shield AI V-BAT official product page (Group 3 VTOL ISR) · https://shield.ai/v-bat/
  2. Shield AI unveils V-BAT Block upgrade (Hivemind autonomy, SATCOM, heavy-fuel engine) · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-unveils-v-bat-block-upgrade-powered-by-hivemind-advanced-autonomy-satcom-and-heavy-fuel-engine-among-new-features/
  3. Shield AI V-BAT autonomy (multi-agent / teaming context) · https://shield.ai/autonomy-for-the-world-v-bat/
  4. Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B to scale Hivemind Enterprise (Mar 6, 2025) · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/
  5. Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B valuation (official wire) (Mar 6, 2025) · https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform-302393843.html
  6. Shield AI raises $240M at $5.3B to commercialize AI drone tech (L3Harris, Hanwha) (Mar 6, 2025) · https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/06/shield-ai-raises-240-million-at-a-5-3-billion-valuation-to-commercialize-its-ai-drone-tech/
  7. Shield AI lands $5.3B valuation (Mar 6, 2025) · https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-06/drone-defense-startup-shield-ai-lands-5-3-billion-valuation
  8. Shield AI raises $2B at $12.7B and acquires Aechelon (Mar 2026) · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-to-acquire-software-simulation-company-aechelon-and-raise-2b-at-12-7b-valuation/
  9. Shield AI raises $2B, doubling valuation to $12.7B (Advent, JPMorgan, Blackstone) (Mar 26, 2026) · https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-26/defense-startup-shield-ai-nabs-2-billion-at-12-7-billion-value
  10. Shield AI lands $12.7B valuation, up 140%, after USAF deal (Mar 26, 2026) · https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/defense-startup-shield-ai-lands-12-7b-valuation-up-140-after-u-s-air-force-deal/
  11. Shield AI projecting $540M+ revenue; Series G at $12.7B (Mar 26, 2026) · https://fortune.com/2026/03/26/shield-ai-revenue-series-g-funding-12-billion-valuation/
  12. Shield AI appoints Gary Steele as CEO; Ryan Tseng named President (Mar 12, 2025) · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-appoints-gary-steele-as-ceo-ryan-tseng-named-president/
  13. Shield AI CEO Gary Steele says the startup is at an inflection point (Dec 21, 2025) · https://fortune.com/2025/12/21/shield-ai-ukraine-defense-tech-gary-steele/
  14. Shield AI co-founder on the 10-year journey (founding 2015, mission) · https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/institute/shield-ai-co-founder-shares-10-year-journey-reimagining-air-power/
  15. Shield AI founder on drones in Ukraine and autonomy philosophy (Oct 9, 2024) · https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/09/shield-ais-founder-on-death-drones-in-ukraine-and-the-ai-weapon-no-one-wants/
  16. Built for GPS- and communications-denied environments, V-BAT has demonstrated exceptional performance in contested electromagnetic conditions · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-surpasses-130-v-bat-sorties-in-ukraine-in-partnership-with-ukrainian-forces/
  17. V-BAT Teams enables multiple V-BATs to autonomously execute missions in electronically contested environments · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdUR-PN4_6c
  18. Shield AI · https://shield.ai/
  19. Shield AI Selected by U.S. Navy to Compete for $800M ISR Services with V-BAT · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-selected-by-u-s-navy-to-compete-for-800m-in-isr-services-with-v-bat/
  20. Shield AI trains with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces; local presence · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-starts-training-with-ukraines-unmanned-systems-forces-establishes-local-presence-in-ukraine/
  21. Shield AI V-BAT sorties in Ukraine (coverage) · https://www.army-technology.com/news/shield-ai-v-bat-ukraine/
  22. Shield AI V-BAT selected for a $198M US Coast Guard maritime UAS contract (Jul 2024) · https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shield-ais-v-bat-selected-for-198-million-contract-to-provide-us-coast-guard-with-maritime-unmanned-aircraft-system-services-302187330.html
  23. Shield AI V-BAT US Coast Guard $198M contract (official) · https://shield.ai/shield-ais-v-bat-selected-for-198-million-contract-to-provide-u-s-coast-guard-with-maritime-unmanned-aircraft-system-services/
  24. Shield AI Captures Three Major Contracts as V-BAT Becomes Default VTOL Platform · https://robotics.press/news/shield-ai-three-contracts-v-bat-vtol/
  25. Shield AI's new V-BAT passes operational evaluation with the US Coast Guard · https://satnews.com/2025/08/04/shield-ais-new-v-bat-passes-operational-evaluation-with-the-u-s-coast-guard/

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Canonical: https://deploy.report/models/shield-ai-v-bat