Shield AI Completes V-BAT Missions in Europe Supporting Border and Emergency Operations
Since early June 2025, Shield AI's V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has been actively supporting border surveillance and emergency response across Europe. Operating under a contract with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and in partnership with Global Sat Tech, V-BAT has helped secure thousands of miles of land and maritime borders.
The V-BAT aircraft has played a key role in reducing irregular border crossings and criminal activity. Over 60 days of continuous operations, local authorities have credited the system’s real-time intelligence and monitoring capabilities for these improvements.
Supporting Emergency Response: Wildfire Missions in Bulgaria
In late July, V-BAT was deployed for its second wildfire response mission in eastern Bulgaria. From 30 kilometers away, the aircraft detected a fast-moving fire and promptly provided critical assistance to firefighting teams.
V-BAT delivered real-time tracking of the fire’s movements, identified hot spots, and mapped firefighting personnel locations. This information enabled helicopter crews to conduct water drops with precise coordinates and grid data, improving response speed and accuracy.
Bulgarian authorities successfully managed airspace coordination between V-BAT and manned aircraft using altitude separation alone. This approach demonstrates strong trust in V-BAT’s reliability and effective integration into complex air operations.
Operational Benefits of V-BAT
- Single-engine, ducted-fan VTOL design allows launch and recovery without personnel intervention.
- Supports a wide range of missions from Group 1 to Group 5 categories, including contested electronic warfare environments.
- Trusted by U.S. and allied forces for persistent surveillance and real-time intelligence gathering.
Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President and Co-founder, highlighted the system’s versatility: “From border interdictions to supporting firefighting teams, V-BAT’s operational use cases are limited only by our customers’ needs.”
Collaborative Innovation Strengthening European Security
Nikolay Kerin, CEO of Global Sat, emphasized the value of integrating advanced aerial surveillance with practical mission requirements. The partnership has delivered a flexible, intelligence-led solution that supports Member States and increases public confidence in border security efforts.
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a defense technology company focused on protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems. Its product portfolio includes the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and Hivemind Vision lines. With offices across the U.S., UAE, Ukraine, and Australia, Shield AI supports operations worldwide.
For more details, visit www.shield.ai.
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