ATHENS (June 2, 2026) – Shield AI today announced that the Hellenic Army has signed a procurement agreement to grow its fleet of V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in support of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) operations across the Aegean Sea.

The Hellenic Army currently uses the V-BAT to deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The acquisition of more platforms will increase Greece’s ability to maintain persistent maritime awareness and security in areas where traditional runway-dependent systems are harder to deploy and sustain.

“V-BAT is exceptionally well-suited for operations in Greece, where forces operate across dispersed islands, remote coastlines, deep valleys, mountain ranges, and complex maritime environments. V-BAT has proven itself in combat operations in Ukraine, including in GPS- and communications-denied environments, and was built for exactly these kinds of operational realities. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Greece and the Hellenic Armed Forces,” said James Lythgoe, regional director of Eastern and Southeast Europe at Shield AI.

As part of this long-term commitment to Greece, Shield AI will establish an office in Athens to support closer collaboration with customers and industry partners in Greece. Shield AI plans to expand investment in Greece’s defense ecosystem, including bringing Hivemind autonomy software to accelerate the development of sovereign autonomous technologies capabilities.

V-BAT is a NATO Class I VTOL UAS featuring a ducted-fan design, more than 12 hours of endurance, and a heavy-fuel engine. Designed, tested, and deployed for contested electronic warfare environments, V-BAT delivers ISR and targeting capability at significantly lower cost and logistical burden than larger NATO Class II and III systems. Its single-engine, enclosed-rotor design enables safe, unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, urban rooftops, and austere environments, making it particularly effective for maritime and expeditionary operations.

About Shield AI:

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai.  Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Media contact:

Charles Forrester, Communications Manager (Europe)

[email protected]