Shield AI, an American aerospace and defense technology company, announced that the Netherlands Ministry of Defence has procured eight V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps.

The deal was publicly announced at the ‘Maritime Uncrewed’ event hosted by the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder, where officials highlighted the V-BAT acquisition as part of a broader effort to modernize the force. The decision to procure these drones reflects a decisive and focused push to field battle-proven, autonomy-enabled systems capable of operating in contested environments and without reliance on GNSS for navigation or mission execution.

This Navy’s decision was informed in part by V-BAT’s demonstrated success in Ukraine – where the platform is executing long-range, long-endurance ISR and targeting with complete independence from GNSS. The drone also conducted a successful month-long flight trial during NATO’s REPMUS 2024 exercise, where V-BAT conducted maritime ISR operations aboard the HNLMS Johan de Witt. That event helped validate the system’s shipboard performance and informed the Dutch Ministry’s decision-making process.
V-BAT Drones

The V-BAT is the only single-engine ducted-fan vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operationally deployed across multiple regions worldwide. Its compact footprint and ability to launch and recover in confined spaces make it ideal for shipborne and austere environments, ensuring flexibility and resilience in complex missions. The drone has earned its reputation for reliability, operating with impunity in GPS-denied and comms-contested environments. Its proven performance in regions like Ukraine, the Black Sea, and the Indo-Pacific demonstrates its ability to withstand advanced electronic warfare threats that have grounded many traditional drones.