The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has formally awarded a contract to U.S.-based defense technology enterprise Shield AI to deliver additional **V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs)** to the Hellenic Armed Forces.
The procurement significantly bolsters Greece’s joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities across both land and maritime domains. By establishing a common, standardized Group 3 uncrewed aerial system architecture shared between the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, the acquisition streamlines cross-service operational logistics, training pipelines, and maintenance frameworks.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: SHIELD AI V-BAT UAS ARCHITECTURE
Airframe, Propulsion & Footprint Metrics
⚡ Prime Contractor & Developer: Shield AI (United States)
⚡ System Classification: Group 3 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS)
⚡ Dimensions & Weight:
• Wingspan: 3.8 meters (12.5 ft)
• Height: 2.9 meters (9.6 ft)
• Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
• Payload Capacity: Up to 18.1 kg (40 lbs)
⚡ Propulsion Architecture: High-efficiency heavy-fuel engine (JP-5 compatible) delivering 12+ hours of continuous operational endurance
⚡ Expeditionary Footprint: Requires a minimal launch and recovery footprint of just 4.6 x 4.6 meters (15 x 15 ft), enabling unassisted deployment from confined land areas, island outposts, and moving naval flight decks 
Sensor Payload Suite & Communications Resilience
💥 Modular Sensor Options: Integrates electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) gimbals, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers, laser designators, and Wide-Area Maritime Surveillance (ViDAR) optical systems
💥 Electronic Warfare & Navigation Hardening: Built with robust anti-jamming architectures designed to maintain autonomous waypoint navigation and mission execution in GPS/GNSS-denied and communications-contested environments
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT
The NSPA-facilitated acquisition of additional V-BAT systems for Greece highlights key strategic and operational trends in Mediterranean defense modernization:
1. **Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness Across the Aegean**: Deploying runway-independent VTOL platforms aboard naval vessels and remote island positions provides the Hellenic Armed Forces with persistent, organic ISR coverage over complex archipelagic and littoral sectors without relying on fixed airbases.
2. **Standardizing Cross-Service Logistics and Maintenance**: Operating a unified tactical drone fleet across both the Hellenic Army and Navy reduces lifecycle support costs, simplifies spare-parts inventories, and unifies operator training programs under a centralized NATO procurement structure.
3. **Prioritizing Expeditionary Flexibility in Contested Spectrums**: As modern operational theaters demand resilience against heavy electronic jamming, fielding platforms capable of autonomous operation in GNSS-denied environments ensures uninterrupted intelligence gathering during high-intensity contingencies.
