Shield AI opens a Kyiv office to support Ukraine's fleet of V-BAT drones

Shield AI/V-BAT

Shield AI opened a Kyiv office with engineers and operators to support Ukraine's armed forces flying the V-BAT, a lightweight vertical-takeoff drone with 10 hours' endurance. In combat trials, the V-BAT operated under heavy electronic jamming and helped locate and coordinate strikes against Russian air-defence systems.

• V-BAT weighs 56.5 kg with 11 kg payload capacity; requires only a 4×4 metre launch area or ship deck
• Successfully performed long-endurance ISR and targeting missions despite GPS and communications jamming
• Located a Russian BUK-M1 air defence system for a HIMARS strike, demonstrating laser-designated strike coordination
• US provided ~$1.5 billion supporting Ukrainian drone development, including funding, components, intelligence and expertise