American aerospace and defence technology firm ShieldAI has announced that it has been selected to supply the V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems to the Indian Army.

Under the programme, the Indian Army will also receive licenses for Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, which will be integrated into the V-BAT platform, the deep-tech company which builds state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defence aircraft, announced in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 28. 

V-BAT is a Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS with a ducted-fan design and a heavy-fuel engine. The drone has more than 12 hours of endurance. 

Designed, tested, and deployed for the electronic warfare battlefield, V-BAT delivers ISR and targeting at significantly lower cost and logistical burden than larger Group 4 and 5 drones. Its single-engine, enclosed-rotor design enables safe, unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, urban rooftops, and austere environments, according to its manufacturer.  

In addition, Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software will also integrate onto V-BAT "as an autonomous pilot, enabling AI-powered perception, cognition, and beyond-visual-range operations," the company stated. 

“India’s selection of V-BAT and Hivemind for the Indian Army reflects a clear understanding of the resilient, expeditionary autonomy required by modern militaries operating across India’s diverse environments. 

“V-BAT’s ability to operate without runways, deliver long-endurance intelligence at the tactical edge, and perform in contested environments makes it uniquely suited to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from the Himalayas to India’s oceanic borders,” said Sarjan Shah, Shield AI’s managing director for India.

The contract with Indian Army also builds on Shield AI’s ongoing commitment to India’s security and war-fighting needs, the company stated, adding that in Dec. 2025, JSW Defence Pvt. Ltd commenced construction of its facility for next-generation unmanned aerial systems at EMC Maheshwaram, Hyderabad, as part of its strategic partnership with Shield AI to manufacture V-BAT domestically. 

“This $90 million investment will enable large-scale production of V-BATs in India to serve the needs of the Indian Armed Forces and also function as a global production hub,” ShieldAI said.