WASHINGTON — (April 20, 2026) — Shield AI announced today its selection by the United States Navy to provide contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of naval and joint force operations.  

Under the Navy’s initiative to expand and modernize ISR capabilities, Shield AI will compete for up to $800 million in task orders alongside other selected industry partners, delivering persistent ISR using its V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system (UAS).  

“V-BAT has delivered more operational outcomes than any other Group 3 VTOL UAS. We’ve interdicted over 100,000 lbs of narcotics in the Caribbean and Pacific. V-BAT has executed hundreds of targeting operations in Ukraine, where GPS and communications are jammed during every mission, and we have delivered substantial outcomes in the Middle East and with our allies and partners,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s co-founder, president and a former Navy Surface Warfare Officer and SEAL. “We aren’t just bringing the V-BAT product and service to the Navy; we’re bringing a world-class team with a wealth of operational experience and the ability to produce undeniable outcomes for our warfighters.”  

V-BAT is a Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system with a ducted-fan design, more than 12 hours of endurance, and a heavy-fuel engine. It is actively operating at sea and from land-based sites with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps, including deployments from Navy ships. Designed for contested electronic warfare environments, V-BAT’s single-engine, enclosed-rotor configuration enables safe, unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks and austere locations, supporting persistent ISR with a small, highly expeditionary footprint and minimal logistics requirements. 

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release; NAVAIR 2026-0267 

About Shield AI 

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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: Lily Hinz; [email protected]