"V-BAT has proven its capabilities in Ukraine and beyond, particularly in environments where communications and GPS links are disrupted or denied," said Ryan Tseng, Shield AI’s president.
Poland’s $16 million buy and the delivery timeline
Poland signed a $16 million deal with Shield AI to acquire the MQ-35 V-Bat unmanned aerial system, the country’s Armaments Agency announced. The contract calls for delivery of “several” platforms to the Polish Navy by the end of the year. After completion of necessary installation work, Polish authorities said the V-Bat systems will be deployed aboard an unspecified class of Polish Navy vessel to support maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations and to help protect critical infrastructure and communication routes.
Design and shipboard performance characteristics
Shield AI advertises the V-Bat as a vertical takeoff and landing system with a 12.5‑foot wingspan and a 9.6‑foot height, traits the company says make it suitable for shipboard deployment where runways are limited. The platform is described as capable of safe, unassisted launch and recovery in maximum winds up to 25 knots and from a moving ship at speeds up to 10 knots. V-Bat systems can be deployed from ship decks, urban rooftops and other austere landing sites without additional infrastructure, and the vendor states a two‑person team can launch the system. When packed, Shield AI says a V-Bat will fit in the back of a pickup truck or a utility helicopter such as a UH-60 Blackhawk.
Sensors and operation in contested electromagnetic environments
Shield AI markets the V-Bat for environments with radio interference, limited or no GPS signal, and degraded communications. The company highlights a passive, AI‑enabled optical ViDAR sensor that, it says, improves commanders’ visibility of activity and threats. Shield AI pointed specifically to the platform’s use in settings where communications and GPS links are disrupted or denied, positioning the system for contested maritime and littoral operations.
Operational footprint and prior customers
The V-Bat system has already been used operationally in multiple regions, including the Black Sea, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Shield AI and other reporting say V-Bats have been deployed in Ukraine, where the company claims they have withstood electronic warfare attacks that downed other unmanned aerial vehicles. The platform was previously selected by the U.S. Coast Guard for its Maritime Unmanned Aircraft System Services program and has deployed on nearly every class of U.S. Navy ship and with all seven U.S. Marine Expeditionary Units, according to the vendor.
International customers and selections cited in the record include a February 2022 order from Brazilian company VSK Tactical; a January 2025 selection to operate from warships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force; a July 2025 purchase by the Dutch Ministry of Defense for an initial twelve systems to support the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps; and a U.S. donation to Romania announced in 2025. The first demonstration of the V-Bat drone in Romania took place on March 26 aboard the frigate Regina Maria. The delivery of the first system to Romania was to be completed by the second quarter of 2026, with two more systems — eight drones in total — to follow for the Romanian Naval Forces via a government‑to‑government contract with the U.S.
What this means for Poland, Baltic Sea nations, and NATO
- Poland (Polish Navy): The service will integrate the V-Bat aboard a currently unspecified vessel after installation work, adding organic shipboard ISR that the Armaments Agency says will protect critical infrastructure and communications routes.
- Baltic Sea nations: Shield AI’s president framed the system as addressing rising security threats against critical energy and communications infrastructure in the Baltic Sea; neighboring navies and coast guards will likely watch Poland’s deployments for lessons on maritime ISR in contested or degraded environments.
- NATO: Ryan Tseng described V-Bat as a potential “force multiplier for Poland, Baltic Sea nations, and NATO,” signaling the vendor views the platforms as contributing to alliance-level maritime situational awareness, particularly under GPS- or communications‑disruptive conditions.
Poland’s procurement adds another operator to a growing list of navies and coast guards using the V-Bat for shipboard and maritime ISR missions. The immediate next steps are concrete and technical: installation work, the choice of vessel class for shipboard deployment, and the number of platforms that constitute “several” under the $16 million contract. Those implementation details will determine how quickly and how widely the new capability alters routine patrols, infrastructure monitoring, and responses to electronic interference in the Baltic Sea.
Source: BreakingDefense — Poland buys V-Bat UAVs from Shield AI for naval forces
