Shield receives NSPA order for additional V-BATs for Hellenic Army and Navy

Contract significantly expands Greece’s V-BAT fleet and includes spares, training, ground support equipment and long-term in-service support

ATHENS (November 11, 2026) — The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered additional Shield V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Hellenic Armed Forces.

The additional aircraft order significantly expands a capability already in Hellenic service for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations on land and at sea. Operating a common V-BAT fleet across the Armed Forces will support greater interoperability, standardize training and maintenance, and give both services access to a runway-independent aircraft designed for maritime and expeditionary operations.

“An order for additional V-BATs represents a major expansion of Greece’s persistent ISR capacity and a strong vote of confidence in an aircraft already operating in Hellenic service,” said James Lythgoe, regional director for Eastern and Southeast Europe at Shield.

“A common fleet across the Hellenic Armed Forces means shared training, logistics and operational experience, while NSPA provides a streamlined way to acquire the aircraft and keep them ready throughout their service lives. V-BAT is exceptionally well suited to the Aegean, where forces need long-endurance ISR from islands, coastlines, ships and austere sites without dependence on runways.”

The contract is awarded by the NSPA, within the UAS Support Partnership legal framework offering participating nations the opportunity for procuring and supporting the entire Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) spectrum from cradle to grave. By consolidating national requirements, NSPA can reduce contracting timelines, create common support solutions and provide access to shared logistics and economies of scale while participating nations retain ownership and control of their capabilities. NSPA’s AGS and UAS Programme provides life-cycle support spanning acquisition, spares, maintenance, training, upgrades and technical assistance.

The contract is the latest milestone in Shield’s expanding partnership with Greece, where the company has opened a regional office in Athens. In October, Shield signed an MoU with GEK TERNA to jointly pursue X-BAT opportunities in Greece, including a Greek industrial participation strategy and potential local production and sustainment. In July, Shield partnered with ALTUS LSA to arm V-BAT with the Greek-built KMB Hunter interceptor. These agreements build on a partnership with EFA GROUP on sovereign autonomous pilots powered by Hivemind.

About V-BAT

V-BAT is a NATO Tactical VTOL UAS featuring a single ducted-fan design, more than 12 hours of endurance and a heavy-fuel engine. Its enclosed-rotor configuration enables unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, islands, remote coastlines and other austere sites without runways or dedicated launch equipment. Designed, tested and deployed for contested electronic warfare environments, V-BAT delivers ISR and targeting at lower cost and logistical burden than larger NATO systems. The aircraft has demonstrated resilience in GPS- and communications-denied conditions and is designed to operate from the dispersed land and maritime locations that characterize the Aegean.

About Shield

Founded in 2015, Shield 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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Media Contact: Freya Lewis; [email protected]