# Shield AI delivers the first V-BAT drones to Taiwan's Coast Guard, with twelve planned

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/shield-ai-delivers-the-first-v-bat-drones-to-taiwan-s-coast-guard-with-48c92b26
Date: 7 Oct 2026
About: [Shield AI](https://technooptimist.io/companies/shield-ai.md)
Original source: https://shield.ai/shield-ai-delivers-first-v-bats-to-taiwan-deepening-its-partnership-with-taiwan-coast-guard-administration/

Shield AI has begun delivering V-BAT drones to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration, shown at the Port of Taipei on October 7. The ship-based drones are for persistent maritime surveillance and coastal patrol. The work is done with local partner AIDC, which will help build a support system in Taiwan.

## Key facts

- The Coast Guard selected the V-BAT in a competitive process in July 2026 for its shipborne UAV program.
- Twelve aircraft are to be delivered over the coming months; the release does not say how many have arrived.
- The release cites more than 12 hours of endurance for the Group 3 ducted-fan drone with a heavy-fuel engine.
- Shield AI will train Coast Guard operators and maintenance crews.

---

The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt).
Data API (JSON, realtime stream): https://technooptimist.io/developers. People read 5 pages free, then Reader $10/month; these Markdown pages are open to agents.
