Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force selects V-BAT as its first ship-based surveillance drone

Shield AI/V-BAT

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force selected V-BAT as its first ship-based surveillance drone, the start of a multi-year procurement with more systems to follow. Shield AI pointed to V-BAT's record in Ukraine and the Black Sea, including flying without GPS, and its unique ducted-fan VTOL design that requires minimal deck space.

• JMSDF selected V-BAT for multi-year procurement as its first ship-based maritime ISR platform.
• V-BAT is the only single-engine ducted-fan VTOL operationally deployed in multiple global regions.
• Proven capability in GPS-denied and comms-jammed environments (Ukraine, Black Sea).
• Compact design enables vertical launch and recovery from limited naval deck space.