Netherlands buys eight V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems from Shield AI

July 11, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Deep-tech company Shield AI has revealed that the Netherlands Ministry of Defence has procured eight V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems.

As disclosed, the aim is to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps.

The decision to procure V-BAT 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, the company noted.

The Navy’s decision was partly based on V-BAT’s proven performance in Ukraine, where it has carried out long-range surveillance and targeting missions without relying on satellite navigation.

V-BAT also took part in a successful month-long trial during NATO’s REPMUS 2024 exercise, performing maritime surveillance from the Dutch amphibious landing ship HNLMS Johan de Witt.

This trial confirmed the system’s ability to operate from ships and helped guide the Dutch Ministry’s decision, it was highlighted.

“V-BAT was built for the types of missions the Dutch Navy and Marine Corps are preparing for—dynamic, distributed, and high-stakes,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President and Co-founder.

“It’s operational today, proven in the most demanding combat environments, and delivers mission-critical capabilities unmatched by any other system.”

In January this year, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) selected V-BAT UAS as the country’s first-ever maritime-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform. The system will provide advanced ISR capabilities to JMSDF surface vessels, “reinforcing Japan’s defense posture and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific region”.