Shield AI has joined a US Navy ISR services program worth up to $800 million using its V-BAT uncrewed aircraft system. The contractor-owned, contractor-operated initiative will see multiple firms compete to provide surveillance support for naval and joint missions. V-BAT is a VTOL drone powered by a heavy-fuel engine and capable of flying for more than 12 hours while carrying payloads up to 18 kilograms. Its design allows operations from ships and remote locations, even in contested environments where GPS or communications may be disrupted.
