US firm to deliver powerful unmanned aircraft systems to China neighbor

California-based defense company Shield AI has been selected by India to supply its next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), specifically the V-BAT drones, to the Indian Army. The V-BAT is a Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS featuring a single-engine, enclosed-rotor ducted-fan design, capable of more than 12 hours of endurance and powered by a heavy-fuel engine. It is designed for electronic warfare and delivers intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities at a lower cost and logistical burden compared to larger drones. Its design allows safe, unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, urban rooftops, and austere environments, making it well-suited for diverse Indian operational theaters, from the Himalayas to oceanic borders. In addition to the V-BAT aircraft, the deal includes licensing of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software development kit (SDK), which will be integrated into the V-BAT