The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has approved Shield AI’s V – BAT vertical take – off and landing drones for operational use, boosting the country’s maritime domain awareness.
The approval comes after successful tests on the HNLMS Johan de Witt Rotterdam – class landing platform dock during operations near northern Norway’s coast. Following this milestone, eight RNLN vessels will receive V – BAT support equipment.
Influenced by the drone’s performance in Ukraine, Amsterdam procured eight V-BAT drones in July 2025 and increased its order to 12 as part of defense modernization efforts.
Shield AI is also teaming with the RNLN and the Dutch Ministry of Defense’s IT delivery agency, JIVC, to further enhance V – BAT’s operational capabilities for Dutch missions.
Made for ISR
Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in contested environments, the V – BAT drone features a ducted – fan design that enables it to operate without runways or launch equipment.
It has a maximum payload capacity of 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and an operational range of up to 112 miles (180 kilometers) using C – Band radio, or 81 miles (130 kilometers) with the MPU5 radio.
Powered by a heavy-fuel engine, the platform can remain airborne for more than 12 hours.
V – BAT has proven its ability to operate in various conditions, including high winds, sub – zero temperatures, and the Arctic environment.
Apart from Ukraine and the Netherlands, the Shield AI drone is in service with, on order, or undergoing trials with several countries, including Armenia, Japan, India, Romania, and the US.
Company President and Co – founder Brandon Tseng noted V – BAT has “become the de facto intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting drone of choice by militaries worldwide.”
It 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,” he added, referring to the Pentagon’s classification of larger, higher – endurance, higher – altitude drones.
- The Defense Post