A V-Bat drone lands aboard the USS Green Bay in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 2, 2023. (US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andrew King)
WARSAW — Poland inked a deal with Shield AI today 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. Shield AI advertises V-Bat as 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.
