Dutch Navy starts V-BAT UAS operations

April 1, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has declared Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operational following testing aboard the HNLMS Johan de Witt, which was operating off the coast of northern Norway.

V-BAT supports the RNLN efforts to increase maritime domain awareness using unmanned systems, with 12 V-BATs being acquired by the RNLN.

Eight RNLN vessels will be equipped with the equipment necessary to support V-BAT operations.

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

UUV/UAV

Throughout the operational test and evaluation process, V-BAT demonstrated its ability to deploy in a range of challenging environments, including high winds, sub-zero temperatures, and polar geophysical anomalies.

A variety of missions were also performed, including transmitting real-time video feeds to the Johan de Witt. This situational awareness allowed commanders to investigate objects on the water, as well as explore new courses for the ship.

“With operations ranging from the high Arctic to the Caribbean, the Royal Netherlands Navy have mission requirements that demand the best systems to support their operations. V-BAT has become the de facto intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting drone of choice by militaries worldwide because of its ability to operate reliably in these environments. V-BAT is also the only Group 3 through Group 5 drone with vast operational experience in contested and hostile air environments, as well as GNSS and comms denied environments,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President and Co-founder.

V-BAT is a NATO Class I small VTOL UAS with a ducted-fan design, more than 12 hours of endurance, and a heavy-fuel engine. Its single-engine, enclosed-rotor design enables safe, unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, urban rooftops, and austere environments, according to Shield AI.

The company is also partnering with the RNLN and the Dutch Ministry of Defense’s IT delivery agency, Joint I Informatievoorziening Commando (Joint Information Provision Command, JIVC), to continue the development of V-BAT’s capabilities for Dutch operations.