V-BAT
A vertical-takeoff reconnaissance aircraft suited to compact operating locations and shipboard use. V-BAT combines fixed-wing flight with a ducted-fan layout and is offered with several observation payloads.
- Country / region
- United States
- Programme status
- Development / trials
- Sources reviewed
- 20 Sept 2026
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- Shield AI
- Origin / production countries
- United States
- Other names
- V-BAT 128
- Variants / configurations
- Current heavy-fuel V-BAT; Earlier configurations differ
- Operators / programme customers
- US Coast Guard — operational testing; Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force — supplier-reported selection
Evidence & current status
Public demonstrations or flight tests establish development activity, not full operational service. Advertised performance is not a complete independent test result.
Role & capabilities
- Vertical takeoff and landing
- Shipboard ISR
- Configurable observation payloads
- Automated flight functions
Specifications in context
- Airframe
- Fixed-wing tailsitter with ducted fan
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Launch / recovery
- Vertical take-off and landing
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Propulsion
- Heavy-fuel engine (JP5)
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Dimensions
- 3.8 m span; 2.9 m height
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Mass
- 75 kg maximum gross take-off mass
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Endurance
- 12+ h with EO/IR payload
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Range
- 130 km MPU5; 180 km C-band radio — link-dependent figures
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Speed
- Not established from the reviewed sources.
Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases.
Source ↗ - Altitude
- Not established from the reviewed sources.
Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases.
Source ↗ - Payload
- 18.1 kg capacity
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Sensors
- EO/IR mission payload; other integrations vary
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗ - Communications / navigation
- Radio options and Hivemind autonomy integration
Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance.
Source ↗