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V-BATShield AI—Shield AI—X-BATShield AI—X-BATShield AI—
V-BAT
Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Manuel Alvarado · Public domain (opens commons.wikimedia.org)

V-BAT

by Shield AIUS

DeployStage 4 of 5

In service with US and allied militaries.

Updated 20 Apr 2026Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Hivemind AI pilot added
  1. Came with the purchase of Martin UAV2021Complete.
  2. Operational use in Ukraine2024Complete.
  3. Hivemind AI pilot addedNowCurrent milestone.

Most important updates

  • 20 Apr 2026
  • 7 Apr 2025
  • 22 Jan 2025
  • Jan 2025
  • 1 Jul 2024

Physics limits

  • Tail-sitters must hover through gusts to landLanding standing up means hovering at low speed, where wind gusts push hardest and control is weakest. Moving ship decks make this the riskiest part of each flight.
  • Small lenses can only see so much detail from far awayA lens's sharpest detail is set by light's wavelength over aperture size. A 5 cm lens can resolve roughly 7 cm at 5 km even when perfect, so detail requires flying closer or carrying bigger optics.

How it works

3 parts
The tail end of a V-BAT: a small two-cylinder engine spins one fan inside a ring-shaped duct, which lifts it standing up and pushes it once it tips over
The tail end of a V-BAT: a small two-cylinder engine spins one fan inside a ring-shaped duct, which lifts it standing up and pushes it once it tips overPhoto: Hunini · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens commons.wikimedia.org)
Launch

Stands up, lifts off

A single engine drives a fan inside a ring-shaped duct at the tail; it takes off and lands standing up, with no launcher or net.

Transition

Tips over onto its wings

Once airborne it pitches forward and flies on its wings like a plane, which is far more efficient for long missions.

Watch

Cameras and Hivemind

It carries cameras and sensors for scouting; Hivemind software lets it fly and search on its own when GPS or radio is jammed.

Update log

5 updates

Mon 20 Apr

  • Minor: BlogCommercial

Mon 7 Apr 2025

  • Minor: BlogHardware

Wed 22 Jan 2025

  • Minor: BlogCommercial

Jan 2025

  • Minor: PressCommercial

Mon 1 Jul 2024

  • Major: BlogCommercial

About Shield AI

The team behind V-BAT

Shield AI

Hivemind AI pilot, V-BAT, X-BAT

San Diego-based Shield AI builds Hivemind, AI software that flies aircraft without GPS or radio links; the V-BAT drone, which takes off on its tail; and X-BAT, an AI-flown combat jet unveiled in 2025.

  • V-BAT has been used operationally, including in Ukraine.
  • Unveiled X-BAT, an AI-flown fighter-size jet that takes off vertically, in October 2025.
  • Raised a $1.5B Series G at $12.7B plus $500M of preferred equity in March 2026.

shield.ai (opens shield.ai)Company profile →

Founded
201511 yrs
Headquarters
United States
Status
Private
Valuation
$13BprivateMar 2026
Raised
$1.7B2 rounds
Last round
Series G · $1.5BMar 2026$13B post
Works in
AviationMilitary drones & autonomyAI
Coverage
2 programs · 9 updateslatest 20 Jul 2026checked 25 Sep
Lead investors
Advent International
People
Ryan TsengCo-founderBrandon TsengCo-founder
Primer