SAN DIEGO (July 11, 2022) – Shield AI announced that its V-BAT aircraft will be operating from the flight deck of USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) during RIMPAC 2022, the world’s largest international maritime exercise involving more than 40 ships and 150 aircraft from 27 partner nations spanning from late June to early August in Hawaii and Southern California.
This is another big step forward towards Shield AI’s goal of putting a swarm of V-BATs on every US and allied naval vessel — destroyers, amphibs, carriers, patrol craft — in the world.
The V-BAT, with its innovative, near-zero footprint vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and long-endurance capabilities, is unlike any UAS on the market today. Propelled by a single, ducted, thrust-vectored fan, it takes off and lands in the style of a SpaceX rocket. Its fully operational logistical footprint fits into the bed of a pickup truck or inside a Blackhawk helicopter, significantly reducing the total cost of capability. U.S. and international customers view the V-BAT as a flexible, cost-efficient platform capable of performing Group 2 UAS to Group 5 UAS missions and beyond.
Media contact:
Lily Hinz
Media@shield.ai
