Shield AI has announced the successful completion of its V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) missions across Europe, conducted in collaboration with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and Global Sat Tech. Since early June, V-BAT aircraft have played a pivotal role in providing integrated border management solutions, actively supporting surveillance and security operations along thousands of miles of land and maritime borders. The missions also extended to emergency response, notably assisting in wildfire interventions.
Over a period of 60 days, the V-BAT platform delivered significant operational outcomes, including measurable reductions in irregular border crossings and criminal activities in areas monitored. Shield AI president and co-founder Brandon Tseng highlighted how the aircraft’s intelligence and rapid deployment capabilities enhanced both routine interdiction efforts and dynamic emergency scenarios. V-BAT was specifically noted for its role in July, when it was rapidly dispatched from 30 kilometers away to aid in combating a fast-moving wildfire in eastern Bulgaria. The system provided real-time intelligence, fire mapping, and coordination data to local firefighting teams and helicopter crews, significantly improving the efficiency of aerial operations.
The deployment demonstrated a high level of trust and integration between manned and unmanned aircraft, with Bulgarian authorities managing shared airspace via altitude separation. Global Sat CEO Nikolay Kerin emphasized that this project exemplifies innovation, cross-border collaboration, and public trust in technology-driven security solutions. The V-BAT, a single-engine, ducted fan VTOL UAS, operates without the need for on-site personnel and is trusted by U.S. and international forces for a range of missions up to Group 5 and in contested environments. Shield AI, founded in 2015, develops advanced autonomy software and aircraft, supporting U.S. and allied defense operations worldwide from offices across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
