Shield AI is a deep-tech company dedicated to building the most advanced autonomous software products and aircraft. The company announced that its V-BAT Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been operational in Europe since early June, under a contract with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex and in collaboration with Global Sat Tech, to provide comprehensive border management solutions. The system has actively supported the surveillance and security of thousands of miles of land and maritime borders and has played a key role in emergency response missions.
Shield AI President and Co-founder stated: “Since early June, we have been carrying out V-BAT missions across the EU in cooperation with Frontex, and the results speak for themselves. During the past 60 days of operations, illegal crossings and criminal activities have significantly decreased. Local authorities directly attribute these achievements to the deployment of the V-BAT drone. From border interceptions to providing real-time intelligence support to firefighting teams, V-BAT continues to prove its limitless application potential—restricted only by the imagination of our customers.”
In late July, V-BAT carried out its second wildfire response mission, supporting efforts to extinguish a fast-spreading fire in eastern Bulgaria. V-BAT detected the fire from 30 kilometers away and quickly reached the site to assist local authorities.
During the second wildfire response mission in late July, V-BAT was deployed to support the extinguishing of a rapidly spreading fire in eastern Bulgaria. V-BAT detected the fire from 30 kilometers away and swiftly arrived on-site to assist local authorities. The aircraft tracked fire dynamics in real time, identified hotspots, and mapped firefighter positions. For helicopter crews, V-BAT provided precise fire coordinates and grid data, enabling them to plan and execute firefighting actions more efficiently without wasting time searching for targets.
What was particularly impressive was that Bulgarian authorities confidently deconflicted V-BAT with manned aircraft based solely on altitude separation. This demonstrated the authorities’ high level of trust in the platform’s reliability and a mature approach to integrating unmanned aircraft systems into complex and dynamic aerial operations.
Global Sat CEO stated: “This project demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can directly strengthen European border security. By combining advanced aerial surveillance with real operational needs, we help deliver a flexible, intelligence-led solution that supports member states and builds public trust in Europe’s approach to border protection.”
Shield AI’s V-BAT UAS has been operational in Europe since early June, under a contract with Frontex and in cooperation with Global Sat Tech, providing comprehensive border management solutions.
The V-BAT is Shield AI’s fielded ducted-fan, single-engine Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAS, capable of autonomous launch and recovery. It is trusted by U.S. and international forces and supports a wide range of missions across Group 1 to Group 5 and beyond, including operations in contested electronic warfare environments such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.