What is the Shield AI V-BAT?
The V-BAT is a vertical-takeoff surveillance and reconnaissance drone from Shield AI, designated the MQ-35. It takes off and lands vertically from a small footprint, runs Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy stack, and is built to keep working when GPS and communications are jammed. It is at the production stage, fielded in Ukraine and selected by the US Coast Guard.
Key facts
- Form factor
- aerial
- Maturity
- production
- Verified deployments
- 3
- Maker
- Shield AI
- type
- VTOL fixed-wing
- group
- Group 3
- autonomy
- Hivemind
- designation
- MQ-35
On the record
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.
What it is
Per the Shield AI V-BAT registry record, the V-BAT is a Group 3 VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) fixed-wing aircraft used for ISR, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and targeting. Its military designation is the MQ-35. Because it launches and recovers vertically from a small footprint, it does not need a runway or a catapult, which matters for ships and forward positions. It is made by Shield AI, based in San Diego, California and founded in 2015.
The verified capabilities
The registry records that the V-BAT runs Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy stack and is designed to be electronic-warfare resilient, meaning it is built to keep operating in GPS-denied and communications-denied environments. It is at the production stage, DEPLOY's highest maturity tier. On DEPLOY's intelligence score it ranks in roughly the top 5% of aerial models tracked.
Where it is deployed
DEPLOY lists 3 verified deployments: San Diego, a US Coast Guard selection in the United States, and use in Ukraine combat zones. These are confirmed at named sites with primary sources.
Verified versus claimed
One honest boundary: DEPLOY's note on Shield AI's own footage is that the swarm and contested-environment capabilities are Shield AI's claims. So the aircraft, its fielding, and the Hivemind autonomy are on record, while multi-aircraft swarm performance is company-framed. V-BAT Teams is a multi-aircraft capability, not a separate model.
DEPLOY has no verified purchase price on record. See is the V-BAT autonomous and verified-vs-claimed.
Frequently asked
What does the Shield AI V-BAT do?
It is a vertical-takeoff ISR and targeting drone (designated MQ-35) that gathers intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from a small footprint without needing a runway.
Who makes the V-BAT drone?
Shield AI, a defense autonomy company based in San Diego, California and founded in 2015.
Where is the V-BAT used?
DEPLOY records verified deployments in San Diego, a US Coast Guard selection, and use in Ukraine combat zones.
Where it is deployed
3 verified deployments on the registry for the Shield AI V-BAT. Click any marker to open its primary-source record.
Explore the deployment map
See where these robots are verified operating, by place and type.
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- The global deployment map →
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