Shield AI’s V-BAT 5.3 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) with the U.S. Coast Guard, marking a step forward in the service’s adoption of autonomous systems.
The evaluation took place aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett over four days of flight testing. According to the company, the aircraft met all Key Performance Parameters and System Attributes, reaching a 100% score across the evaluation criteria.
The successful test supports the rollout of a $198 million IDIQ (indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity), firm-fixed-price contract awarded in June 2024. The contract covers the delivery of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services using the V-BAT platform.
Shield AI stated that the V-BAT’s deployment is in line with the Coast Guard’s modernization efforts under its Force Design 2028 initiative. The system is designed for autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and operates without the need for launch or recovery personnel.
The V-BAT 5.3, powered by a single-engine ducted-fan system, is already in use by U.S. and allied forces. It is capable of supporting a wide spectrum of missions that span the Group 1 to Group 5 UAS categories.
Shield AI, established in 2015, develops autonomous aircraft and software for defense applications. The company operates out of offices in the United States and several international locations, including the UAE, Ukraine, and Australia.
