Drones on deck: US Coast Guard prepares for fleetwide UAS deployment

The US Coast Guard has completed comprehensive operational testing of Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) aboard its cutters USCGC Midgett and Stone.

The move comes in preparation for the future installation of the V-BAT UAS capability across the national security cutter fleet and potentially other US Coast Guard vessel classes. 

The US Coast Guard is in the midst of a transition to the advanced V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing system. This capability addresses a critical operational need for persistent airborne surveillance capabilities that support a wide range of missions.

The coast guard awarded a contract for unmanned aircraft systems to Shield AI in June 2024.  The V-BAT can perform vertical takeoffs and landings, which requires a smaller footprint than other UAS previously employed by the coast guard.

Furthermore, the service plans to explore V-BAT use on other cutter classes with smaller flight decks and cutters without flight decks.  

The Coast Guard Research and Development Center served as the independent test agent (ITA), with overall responsibility for managing the operational test process for the maritime UAS capability on host cutters. The ITA coordinates operational test events to evaluate the system’s operational performance, directs all data collection efforts and determines if mission requirements have been met. 

The operational test event utilized the cutters in a fully mission-capable state to support flight operations during the underway period.

The comprehensive evaluation verified the system’s ability to meet identified key performance parameters and assessed operational effectiveness in helping the national security cutter complete its missions during routine operations. The testing also evaluated operational suitability. No critical operational issues were identified, it was noted.