Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT

Lore & Background

The V-BAT's single-engine ducted fan enables it to take off and land vertically in confined spaces and to shift from hover to horizontal flight. Its autonomous software, branded as Shield AI’s Hivemind, includes visual odometry navigation capabilities for operating in GPS and communication denied environments. Its compact design and ability to hover makes it suitable for shipboard operations and confined land areas. In October 2023, Shield AI announced that the V-BAT had achieved drone-swarming capabilities, using Hivemind AI to enable multi-vehicle coordination and distributed autonomous operations. In April 2025, Shield AI introduced the V-BAT Block 5.3 upgrade, which replaced the earlier gasoline engine with a 33-horsepower heavy-fuel engine compatible with JP-5. The new powerplant increased the aircraft’s maximum payload from 25 to 40 pounds (11.3 to 18.1 kilograms) and improved compatibility with naval and expeditionary fuel systems. The upgrade also incorporated larger fuel tanks, satellite communications, and unassisted vertical takeoff and landing. Shield AI states that the configuration can achieve 12 hours of endurance.

In Ukraine, V-BATs have operated under Russian electronic warfare (EW) conditions and have been used to collect and relay targeting data for artillery strikes. The aircraft has been adopted by military and maritime organizations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its maritime use includes operations from United States Navy and Coast Guard vessels and a 2026 Frontex and Italian Coast Guard trial from the patrol vessel Dattilo in the central Mediterranean. In April 2024, a V-BAT partially severed three fingers of a US Navy sailor who was helping it to land. Following this incident, US military customers imposed restrictions on its flight, while they investigated this matter for several months. Later, Shield AI modified the V-BAT so that it no longer required human assistance to launch and land. In June 2026, Reuters reported that 50 of 200 upgraded V-BATs operated by Shield AI had been destroyed in accidents.

Reader's Guide

The V-BAT represents a significant evolution in tactical unmanned systems, particularly for maritime and expeditionary operations where runway independence is critical. Its adoption by multiple nations—including the United States, Greece, India, Japan, the Netherlands, and Romania—reflects a growing demand for VTOL drones capable of operating from ships and confined land sites under electronic warfare conditions. The aircraft's integration of Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software, including visual odometry for GPS-denied environments and swarming capabilities, positions it as a platform for distributed autonomous operations. The Block 5.3 upgrade addressed naval fuel compatibility and increased payload capacity, while the shift to unassisted launch and landing followed a 2024 accident that injured a sailor. The V-BAT's operational use in Ukraine for artillery targeting under Russian EW conditions demonstrated its resilience in contested environments. However, a June 2026 Reuters report that 50 of 200 upgraded V-BATs had been destroyed in accidents highlighted reliability challenges. The aircraft's inclusion on the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency’s Blue UAS Cleared List and its selection for the U.S. Army's FTUAS competition underscore its role in shaping future tactical UAV procurement. The emergence of a Chinese derivative, the AVIC Yunying-25, externally similar to the V-BAT, suggests the design's influence extends beyond its original manufacturer.

Did You Know?

• The V-BAT achieved drone-swarming capabilities in October 2023 using Shield AI's Hivemind software.
• In April 2024, a V-BAT partially severed three fingers of a US Navy sailor during landing, leading to design modifications for unassisted launch and landing.
• The Chinese AVIC Yunying-25, externally similar to the V-BAT, was first publicly displayed in February 2026.