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Product profile

V-BAT

V-BAT is Shield AI vertical-takeoff fixed-wing UAS for defense missions. It combines runway-free launch and recovery with fixed-wing endurance for ISR, tar...

Facts

Company
Shield AI
Product type
uav
Status
commercial
Primary capability
generalist
Website
https://shield.ai/v-bat/

About V-BAT

V-BAT is a tail-sitting Group 3 aircraft whose ducted-fan propulsion supports both vertical flight and efficient fixed-wing cruise. The heavy-fuel platform carries up to 18.1 kilograms, flies for more than 12 hours with an electro-optical payload and operates from a landing area measuring approximately 4.6 metres square.

A two-person team can assemble and launch the aircraft without a runway or external recovery equipment. Modular payloads include electro-optical and infrared systems, radar, ViDAR, signals equipment, SATCOM and kinetic options. Hivemind autonomy, open interfaces and navigation for communications- and GNSS-contested environments support distributed ISR, targeting and maritime missions.

Market context

generalist

Summary

Type: VTOL UAV

Core: Runway-free ISR

Function: Gather intelligence

Audience: Armed forces

Specifications

architecture_standard
Open architecture with STANAG compliance
communications
SATCOM BLOS option and mobile command-and-control integration
deployment_team_size
2-person team people
deployment_time_minutes
Under 30 minutes min
dimensions
9.6 ft / 2.9 m height; 15 ft x 15 ft / 4.6 m x 4.6 m landing zone
endurance_hours
12+ hr max endurance with EO/IR payload h
fuel
JP-5 heavy fuel
launch_recovery
Fully unassisted vertical takeoff and landing
mtow_kg
75 kg
payload_capacity_kg
18.14 kg
payload_options
Modular payloads including EO/IR, SAR, AIS, SATCOM, GNSS anti-jam, laser range finder and laser target designator options
payload_power_w
600 W payload integration power W
propulsion
Ducted-fan propulsion with no exposed rotors
range
130 km with MPU5; 180 km with C-band radio km
vidar_coverage_rate
3,140 NM²/hour NM²/h
wind_tolerance
Launch and land in winds up to 25 kt and moving ship speed of 10 kt
wingspan
12.5 ft / 3.8 m wingspan

Operations

Environment
expeditionary land sites, shipboard and maritime operations
Primary user
armed forces, maritime security operators
Role
long-endurance ISR, targeting support, VTOL launch and recovery
Interaction model
two-person expeditionary deployment, autonomous mission execution
Mobility class
tail-sitting VTOL fixed-wing UAS

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