Shield AI’s V-BAT Drone Strengthens European Border Security and Wildfire Response

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 operating in Europe since early June under a contract with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), in cooperation with Global Sat Tech, to deliver comprehensive border management solutions. The drone actively supports the surveillance and security of thousands of miles of land and sea borders, while also playing a critical role in emergency response missions.

Shield AI President and Co-Founder stated: “Since early June, we have been executing V-BAT missions across the EU in collaboration with Frontex, and the results speak for themselves. Over the past 60 days of operations, illegal crossings and criminal activity have significantly decreased. Local authorities directly credit these outcomes to the deployment of the V-BAT drone. From border interception to providing real-time intelligence to firefighting units, V-BAT continues to prove its limitless application potential — only bounded by the imagination of our customers.”

In late July, the V-BAT carried out its second wildfire response mission, supporting efforts to extinguish a rapidly spreading fire in eastern Bulgaria. V-BAT detected the fire from 30 kilometers away and quickly arrived on scene to assist local authorities.

During its second wildfire response mission in late July, the V-BAT provided real-time tracking of fire dynamics, identified hotspot areas, and mapped firefighter positions. For helicopter crews, V-BAT delivered precise fire coordinates and grid data, allowing them to plan and execute suppression operations more efficiently without wasting time searching for targets.

Particularly impressive was how Bulgarian authorities confidently deconflicted V-BAT with manned aircraft using altitude separation alone. This demonstrated not only their strong trust in the platform’s reliability but also a mature approach to integrating unmanned aircraft systems into complex and dynamic aerial operations.

Global Sat CEO noted: “This project shows how innovation and collaboration can directly strengthen European border security. By combining advanced aerial surveillance with real-world operational needs, we deliver a flexible, intelligence-led solution that supports member states and builds public trust in how Europe secures its borders.”

The Shield AI V-BAT UAS has been operating in Europe since early June under a contract with Frontex and in partnership with Global Sat Tech to provide comprehensive border management solutions.

V-BAT is a ducted-fan, single-engine, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system capable of autonomous launch and recovery. Trusted by U.S. and international forces, it supports a wide range of missions across Group 1 through Group 5 and beyond, including operations in contested electronic warfare environments such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict.