Shield AI announced that its operations team based in Kyiv has completed more than 130 V-BAT sorties in Ukraine.
These missions were conducted alongside Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) in contested electronic warfare environments. The sorties supported both operator training and real-world operational tasks, helping to improve frontline readiness ahead of Ukraine’s spring campaign.
Since opening its local office in Kyiv, Shield AI’s engineers, technical specialists, and mission operations staff have worked closely with the USF to accelerate system integration and operator deployment. Ukrainian military veterans have also been hired to support operations, with several operators scheduled to travel to Texas for advanced training later this month.
According to the USF, the V-BAT’s ability to operate without GPS or communications, combined with precision targeting, gives it an edge over other UAVs. Ukrainian operators also praised the training provided by Shield AI.
James Lythgoe, managing director of Shield AI Ukraine and a former UK Royal Marine, stated:
“The war in Ukraine is the front line of modern warfare. For defense companies, legitimacy is no longer earned in labs, test ranges, or exercises. It is earned on the battlefield. Shield AI’s operational presence and focus on real-world problems have allowed us to build systems that perform where it matters most.”
V-BAT, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, is designed for GPS- and communications-denied environments. It has demonstrated long-endurance ISR and strike capabilities in contested electromagnetic conditions.
The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) is the world’s first dedicated military branch focused on unmanned systems, including aerial, ground, surface, and underwater platforms. Its mission is to protect Ukraine’s territory and population, degrade enemy forces, and execute operations both on the front lines and at strategic depths.