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Indian Army has signed a contract with US defence technology firm Shield AI to procure its V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems, along with licences for the company’s Hivemind autonomy software, the firm said on Wednesday.
The deal, cleared under emergency procurement powers, covers the supply of V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance UAS drones and the integration of Hivemind autonomy on the platform. The Army will also receive licences for the Hivemind software development kit, that will enable Indian entities to develop and test mission-specific autonomous applications.
Shield AI said the software package is aimed at supporting sovereign capability development, with selected Indian partners expected to customise autonomy solutions for local operational requirements.
V-BAT is a Group 3 unmanned aircraft with a ducted-fan design and the ability to take off and land vertically without a runway. Powered by a heavy-fuel engine, the platform has an endurance of over 12 hours and is primarily designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in difficult terrain and contested environments.
Its enclosed rotor and single-engine configuration allow launch and recovery from confined spaces, including ship decks, rooftops and forward operating locations. According to the company, the system is suitable for deployment across India’s diverse geography, from high-altitude areas to coastal regions, while requiring a relatively low logistical footprint.
The contract also builds on Shield AI’s growing industrial footprint in India. In December 2025, JSW Defence began construction of a facility for next-generation unmanned aerial systems at Maheshwaram near Hyderabad as part of its partnership with the US firm. The facility is intended to support domestic manufacturing of the V-BAT and act as a global production hub, in line with India’s defence indigenisation push.
“Shield AI has been an early mover in investing deeply in India, forging strategic partnerships to bring sovereign defence capabilities to the nation,” said Sarjan Shah, Shield AI’s Managing Director for India.
The V-BAT has gained operational visibility due to its use in Ukraine. After early challenges linked to Russian electronic warfare, Shield AI integrated the Hivemind autonomy stack into the platform in 2024. Ukrainian forces later tested updated variants in heavily jammed airspace, where it used to detect air defence systems, command centres and drone control sites.
Shield AI currently operates across the US, Europe, West Asia and the Asia-Pacific, with aircraft manufacturing based near Dallas. The India partnership marks one of its most significant international expansions, combining advanced autonomy software with local manufacturing.
“India’s selection of V-BAT and Hivemind for the Indian Army reflects a clear understanding of the resilient, expeditionary autonomy required by modern militaries operating across India’s diverse environments. V-BAT’s ability to operate without runways, deliver long-endurance intelligence at the tactical edge, and perform in contested environments makes it uniquely suited to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from the Himalayas to India’s oceanic borders,” added Shah.
For the Indian Army, the acquisition fits into wider efforts to modernise its force structure while reducing dependence on imports, particularly in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence-driven capabilities that are increasingly central to modern warfare.
Team BharatShakti
