New Delhi

US-based deep-tech defence firm Shield AI has announced that the Indian Army has selected its V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles along with licences for the company’s Hivemind autonomy software, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s autonomous defence capabilities.

Under the agreement, the Indian Army will induct V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones, integrated with Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy system. The deal also includes access to Hivemind’s software development kit (SDK), enabling India to independently develop, deploy and test mission-specific autonomous capabilities across multiple platforms.

Hivemind is designed to allow defence systems to independently sense their surroundings, make decisions and execute actions, enabling unmanned platforms to operate effectively in dynamic and hostile environments while completing missions without direct human control.

The SDK will be made available to select Indian partners of Shield AI, allowing autonomous solutions to be developed locally and customised for India’s unique operational requirements.

“Shield AI has invested early and strategically in India by building strong partnerships aimed at delivering sovereign defence technologies,” said Sarjan Shah, Managing Director of Shield AI India.

He added that the Indian Army’s selection of V-BAT and Hivemind reflects a recognition of the need for resilient, expeditionary autonomy across varied terrains. Shah highlighted that the platform’s runway-independent operations, long-endurance capabilities and performance in contested environments make it well suited for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions ranging from the Himalayan region to India’s maritime borders.

The agreement builds on Shield AI’s expanding footprint in India’s defence ecosystem. In December 2025, JSW Defence Pvt Ltd began construction of a facility for next-generation unmanned aerial systems at EMC Maheshwaram in Hyderabad, as part of its strategic collaboration with Shield AI. The project, backed by an investment of USD 90 million, is aimed at large-scale domestic manufacturing of V-BAT drones to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, while also serving as a global production hub.

V-BAT is a Group 3 VTOL unmanned aerial system featuring a ducted-fan configuration, a heavy-fuel engine and endurance exceeding 12 hours. Developed specifically for electronic warfare and contested battlefields, it offers intelligence gathering and targeting capabilities at lower cost and with reduced logistical complexity compared to larger Group 4 and Group 5 drones.

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Its single-engine, enclosed-rotor design allows safe, autonomous launch and recovery from ship decks, rooftops and remote or austere locations. With the integration of Hivemind, V-BAT will operate with an autonomous AI pilot, enabling advanced perception, decision-making and beyond-visual-range missions.