Warsaw: Poland inked a deal with Shield AI to purchase the MQ-35 V-Bat unmanned aerial system in a $16 million (USD) deal that will deliver “several” platforms to the Polish Navy by the end of the year, according to Poland’s Armaments Agency.
After completing the necessary installation work, the V-Bat systems will be deployed aboard an unspecified class of Polish Navy vessel to aid in maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, according to Polish authorities. The new systems are also expected to help protect critical infrastructure and communication routes.
V-Bat drones can take off and land vertically, with a 12.5-foot wingspan and 9.6-foot height, making them ideal for shipboard deployment where runway length is limited. According to Shield AI, V-Bat is designed to operate in environments with radio interference, limited or no GPS signal, and degraded communications, improving commanders’ visibility of activity and threats using a passive, AI-enabled optical ViDAR sensor.
The drone’s design allows safe, unassisted launch and recovery in max winds up to 25 knots and at a moving ship speed of 10 knots. The V-Bat system can be deployed from ship decks, urban rooftops and other austere landing sites, without the need for additional infrastructure. They can be launched by a two-person team and, when packed up, fit in the back of a pickup truck or utility helicopter, like a UH-60 Blackhawk.
The V-Bat system has been operationally deployed in multiple regions, including the Black Sea, the Caribbean and the Middle East. In Ukraine, V-Bat drones have withstood electronic warfare attacks that have downed other UAVs.
“V-BAT has proven its capabilities in Ukraine and beyond, particularly in environments where communications and GPS links are disrupted or denied,” said Ryan Tseng, Shield AI’s president, in a press release. “Operations in the Baltic Sea, where security threats against critical energy and communications infrastructure are becoming more frequent, demand reliable sensor platforms and systems in all weather conditions and sea states. V-BAT delivers exactly that, and will serve as a force multiplier for Poland, Baltic Sea nations, and NATO.”
The V-Bat system was previously selected by the US Coast Guard for the service’s Maritime Unmanned Aircraft System Services programme. It has also deployed on nearly every class of US Navy ship and with all seven US Marine Expeditionary Units.
