Role & capabilities
- Vertical takeoff and landing
- Shipboard ISR
- Configurable observation payloads
- Automated flight functions
- 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 & programme
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.
The current supplier table describes a heavy-fuel aircraft with a 75 kg maximum gross take-off mass. Earlier V-BAT publications describe different configurations. US Coast Guard operational testing and Japanese selection are separate customer milestones; neither establishes delivery to every reported customer.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ↗ |
Publication history
- — Expanded catalogue profile with sourced specifications, variant distinctions, programme evidence and explicit public data gaps.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- Shield AI V-BAT overview (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme source
- US Coast Guard operational testing, 31 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)Government / operator
- Shield AI Japanese selection announcement (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme source