Shield AI’s V‑BAT unmanned aircraft system has been deployed in Europe since early June under a contract with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, also known as Frontex, in partnership with Global Sat Tech.
In late July, the V-BAT was deployed to combat a rapidly spreading wildfire in eastern Bulgaria. Operating from 30 kilometers away, the drone detected the blaze, relayed real-time imagery to authorities, tracked the fire’s progression, identified hot spots and helped map out firefighting personnel on the ground. V-BAT also provided helicopter crews with precise location data for water drops, enhancing operational efficiency.
Shield AI President Brandon Tseng said V-BAT has been helping with missions to combat illegal crossings and criminal activity across the European Union.
“From border interdictions to supporting firefighting teams with real-time intelligence, V-BAT continues to prove its operational use cases are limited only by our customers’ imaginations,” he said.
A single ducted fan powers the V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing system. It can fly for over 13 hours, operate at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet and carry payloads of up to 40 pounds. It accommodates a variety of sensors and modules, including electro-optical infrared cameras, aircraft transponders and synthetic aperture radars.
This deployment with Frontex is the latest in a series of international deals for Shield AI’s V-BAT. Last month, the Netherlands ordered eight V-BAT systems to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps. Earlier this year, Japan also selected the V-BAT as its first maritime-based ISR platform, with plans to acquire multiple units to enhance surveillance and intelligence-gathering on Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol vessels.
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