# Shield AI V-BAT Manufacturer: [Shield AI](/companies/shield-ai) Category: aerial ## Summary 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. ## Top line > 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. ## Readiness - **Availability** (internal-only): Internal use only (not for retail). - **Price honesty** (no-price): No price points on file for Shield AI V-BAT. - **Capability honesty** (no-claims): No reviewed capability claims on file for Shield AI V-BAT. - **Real-world use** (production): Maturity: production. 2 verified deployments in the registry. - **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](/deployments/shield-ai-v-bat-ukraine) - [United States](/deployments/shield-ai-v-bat-us-coast-guard), first seen 2024-07-01 ## 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 Hivemind](/brains/hivemind) (foundation-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)](https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/)._ ### 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](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. ### 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)](https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/)._ ## Manufacturer - [Shield AI (https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/)](https://shield.ai/shield-ai-raises-240m-at-5-3b-valuation-to-scale-hivemind-enterprise-an-ai-powered-autonomy-developer-platform/) ## Compared to - [HX-2 (and HF-1)](/consumer/models/helsing-hx-2) - [Ghost (Ghost-X)](/consumer/models/anduril-ghost) ## 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. [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/) 17. [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/) 18. [Shield AI V-BAT sorties in Ukraine (coverage)](https://www.army-technology.com/news/shield-ai-v-bat-ukraine/) 19. [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) 20. [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/) _Canonical: https://deploy.report/models/shield-ai-v-bat_