Shield AI’s V-BAT chosen for $198-million USCG contract
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded Shield AI an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, firm fixed-price contract to provide contractor-owned, contractor-operated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services using the V-BAT uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)
According to the company, the V-BAT series aircraft is “the only operationally deployed single-engine ducted fan vertical takeoff and land (VTOL) UAS that can launch and recover from a hover and fly on wing in horizontal flight”. It has more than five years of persistent operational experience at sea, having been deployed by US and international customers.
Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President, Co-Founder, and former Navy SEAL, commented on the contract award: “We’re excited to support the US Coast Guard with their ISR operations. All maritime vessels will become drone carriers as maritime forces move to deploy distributed, affordable, intelligent drones. V-BAT’s selection by the US Coast Guard is indicative of a broader market movement where increasingly customers are recognizing they can accomplish the vast majority of their mission sets with affordable drones rather than exquisite, expensive crewed or uncrewed aircraft.”
The USCG isn’t the only maritime organization investing in drones for ISR work – the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency seems to be considering similar options for uncrewed aircraft.