Is the Shield AI V-BAT actually available for purchase?

Not available to consumers. In internal use by Shield AI. Source: https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/.

Where is the Shield AI V-BAT being used?

Shield AI V-BAT is in use at: Ukraine and United States (2024-07-01). Source: https://shield.ai/shield-ai-surpasses-130-v-bat-sorties-in-ukraine-in-partnership-with-ukrainian-forces/.

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 2 verified deployments.

Who makes the Shield AI V-BAT?

Shield AI V-BAT is made by Shield AI, based in San Diego, California, USA. Source: https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/.

Consumer model

Shield AI V-BAT

By Shield AI · aerial

Price: —
Availability: Internal use only (not for retail).
Maturity: production
Real-world use: Yes, 2 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), no capability claims are on file, 2 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

no-claims

No reviewed capability claims on file for Shield AI V-BAT.

see evidence →

Real-world use

production

Maturity: production. 2 verified deployments in the registry.

see evidence →

Safety record

no-incidents

No incidents on record. 2 verified deployments on file.

What it claims to do

No reviewed capability claims on file.

Price

No reviewed price points on file.

Real-world use

Ukraine
United States2024-07-01

Safety record

No incidents on record. 2 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

Runs on Shield AI Hivemindfoundation-model

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.
Where is the Shield AI V-BAT being used?: Shield AI V-BAT is in use at: Ukraine and United States (2024-07-01).Source: Shield AI surpasses 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine
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 2 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)

Manufacturer

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

Compared to

HX-2 (and HF-1)by Helsing · aerial
Ghost (Ghost-X)by Anduril Industries · aerial

Sources

Shield AI V-BAT official product page (Group 3 VTOL ISR) · https://shield.ai/v-bat/
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/
Shield AI V-BAT autonomy (multi-agent / teaming context) · https://shield.ai/autonomy-for-the-world-v-bat/
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/
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
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/
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
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/
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
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
Shield AI surpasses 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine · https://shield.ai/shield-ai-surpasses-130-v-bat-sorties-in-ukraine-in-partnership-with-ukrainian-forces/
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/
Shield AI V-BAT sorties in Ukraine (coverage) · https://www.army-technology.com/news/shield-ai-v-bat-ukraine/
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
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/

Machine-readable: this page as markdown.

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