The Hellenic Army already uses V-BAT for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Shield AI said the acquisition of more platforms will increase Greece’s ability to maintain persistent maritime awareness and security.
The company said V-BAT is suited for areas where traditional runway-dependent systems are more difficult to deploy and sustain. This includes maritime operating areas and dispersed locations with limited infrastructure.
“V-BAT is exceptionally well-suited for operations in Greece, where forces operate across dispersed islands, remote coastlines, deep valleys, mountain ranges, and complex maritime environments. V-BAT has proven itself in combat operations in Ukraine, including in GPS- and communications-denied environments, and was built for exactly these kinds of operational realities. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Greece and the Hellenic Armed Forces,” said James Lythgoe, regional director of Eastern and Southeast Europe at Shield AI.
As part of its long-term commitment to Greece, Shield AI said it will open an office in Athens. The office is intended to support closer collaboration with customers and industry partners in the country.
Shield AI said it also plans to expand investment in Greece’s defense ecosystem. This includes bringing Hivemind autonomy software to help accelerate the development of sovereign autonomous technology capabilities.
V-BAT is a NATO Class I vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft system with a ducted-fan design. The aircraft has more than 12 hours of endurance and is powered by a heavy-fuel engine.
The system is designed, tested and deployed for contested electronic warfare environments. Shield AI said V-BAT provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability at significantly lower cost and logistical burden than larger NATO Class II and III systems.
V-BAT’s single-engine, enclosed-rotor design allows safe, unassisted launch and recovery. According to the company, it can operate from ship decks, urban rooftops and austere environments.
Shield AI said those features make V-BAT particularly effective for maritime and expeditionary operations. The company said the expanded Greek fleet will support operations in complex maritime environments across the Aegean Sea.
