Earlier this year, Ukraine's Defense Forces reportedly deployed experimental V-BAT drones in combat. Shield AI's CEO, Brandon Tseng, revealed that Ukrainian forces received these drones in June to evaluate their performance against russian electronic warfare systems.
Recently, the Indian company JSW Group announced a joint venture with Shield AI to establish domestic production of V-BAT drones. India plans to invest approximately $90 million into the project over two years. This funding will cover the construction of a manufacturing facility, employee training, and related infrastructure. Most of the investment, about $65 million, is set to be allocated within the first year.
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Shield AI emphasizes that the V-BAT drones are capable of performing some missions traditionally handled by helicopters or larger UAVs, while doing so at a lower cost.
This collaboration aligns with India's "Atmanirbharta" initiative, which encourages foreign companies to manufacture military equipment locally. According to Breaking Defense, this policy reflects India’s broader push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
For example, in the past year, the U.S. announced plans to establish production of Stryker armored vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missile systems in India. Similarly, the joint venture with Shield AI positions India to meet the needs of its Armed Forces while serving as a global production hub for V-BAT drones.
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