Shield AI has announced its V-BAT uncrewed aerial system (UAS) is in the running to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) for the U.S. Navy.
As per a press statement the firm is one of a number shortlisted to provide ISR capabilities to American maritime forces under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) model.
The U.S. Navy has earmarked a budget of up to $800 million to employ an undisclosed number of shortlisted firms to operate persistent ISR missions on its behalf.
Shield AI will compete for mission contracts using its V-BAT, a Group 3 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone which can fly for more than 12 hours at a time and can also be configured for targeting and strike missions.
It stands just under 3m tall, has a wingspan of almost 4m, and a maximum payload of about 18kg. The firm said its drone is already being used at sea and from land-based sites by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps.
The firm’s co-founder and president Brandon Tseng noted: “V-BAT has delivered more operational outcomes than any other Group 3 VTOL UAS.
“We’ve interdicted over 100,000 lbs of narcotics in the Caribbean and Pacific. V-BAT has executed hundreds of targeting operations in Ukraine, where GPS and communications are jammed during every mission, and we have delivered substantial outcomes in the Middle East and with our allies and partners.”
He added: “We aren’t just bringing the V-BAT product and service to the Navy; we’re bringing a world-class team with a wealth of operational experience.”
In July last year the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) announced it was buying V-BAT drones for ISR. Having tested them off the coast of Norway in March this year it declared them operationally ready and revealed plans to deploy them on eight different kinds of RNLN ships.
- You can read more details on the Shield AI website