India has chosen Shield AI to supply V-BAT uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and licences for the company’s Hivemind autonomy software, which will be integrated into the V-BAT platform for the Indian Army.
The agreement includes the procurement of V-BAT aircraft, as well as access to Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software development kit (SDK).
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Shield AI stated that the SDK will allow selected partners in India to build autonomous solutions suited for local requirements.
The Hivemind software enables platforms to sense, decide, and act autonomously, adapting to changing environments and completing missions without human input.
Shield AI India managing director Sarjan Shah said: “India’s selection of V-BAT and Hivemind for the Indian Army reflects a clear understanding of the resilient, expeditionary autonomy required by modern militaries operating across India’s diverse environments.
“V-BAT’s ability to operate without runways, deliver long-endurance intelligence at the tactical edge, and perform in contested environments makes it uniquely suited to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from the Himalayas to India’s oceanic borders.”
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By GlobalDataShield AI has previously entered into a partnership with JSW Defence, which began constructing a facility in the Indian city of Hyderabad in December 2025 to manufacture next-generation UAS domestically as part of this collaboration.
The $90m investment is intended to support large-scale production of V-BATs in India for the armed forces and establish a global production hub.
The V-BAT is categorised as a Group 3 vertical take-off and landing UAS featuring a ducted-fan design, endurance exceeding twelve hours, and a heavy-fuel engine.
It is designed for tasks such as ISR and targeting on electronic warfare battlefields at lower operational cost and logistical demands compared to larger drone classes.
The platform allows unassisted launch and recovery from a variety of locations including ship decks and urban rooftops.
As part of the partnership, Shield AI will also equip the V-BAT platform with Hivemind autonomy software to function as an autonomous pilot, supporting AI-driven perception, decision-making, and operations beyond visual range.
