Poland has become the latest NATO member to acquire V-BAT uncrewed aerial systems, as per drone manufacturer Shield AI.
According to a press statement by the firm, it has just signed a contract with Poland’s Armament Agency, PGZ Group, which will see an unspecified number of the drones “support Polish Navy operations.”
The statement noted: “The V-BAT force will be deployed aboard a Polish Navy vessel, providing maritime domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support.”
Shield AI President Ryan Tseng commented: “Operations in the Baltic Sea, where security threats against critical energy and communications infrastructure are becoming more frequent, demand reliable sensor platforms and systems in all weather conditions and sea states.
“V-BAT delivers exactly that, and will serve as a force multiplier for Poland, Baltic Sea nations, and NATO.”
Known for its flexibility and compact deployment requirements, the VTOL UAS, which flies horizontally once airborne, can operate off a flight deck as small as 5 square metres.
The drone stands just under 3m tall, has a wingspan of almost 4m, and a maximum payload of about 18kg. It can fly for more than 12 hours at a time and can also be configured for targeting and strike missions.
In Ukraine, it has been used for long-endurance ISR missions without relying on satellite-based navigation systems such as GPS.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the Hellenic Army had signed a procurement deal to acquire up to ten extra V-BATs for ISR missions in the Aegean Sea; Greek Armed Forces had initially trialled two of the drones.
The Royal Netherlands Navy has also recently acquired 12 V-BAT drones for ISR.
V-BATs are also widely used by the U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard; the drones have been deployed on a wide range of Navy ships and with all seven US Marine Expeditionary Units.
- You can read more details about the Polish deal on the Shield AI website