Uncrewed aircraft · Air
V-BAT
Ducted-fan unmanned aircraft for expeditionary ISR and targeting.
by Shield AI
- Milestones0
- Sources4
- Operators—
- Components—
Timeline
No milestones recorded for V-BAT yet. The timeline fills in as unveilings, tests, contracts and deliveries are sourced.
Cost to the government
- Unit cost (per unit)Estimated$4.1MEstimate / observation: 2026-08-31 · 280 units · Taiwan
Taiwan Navy 'smart VTOL UAV' (identified by press as Shield AI V-BAT) program in the MND FY2027 (ROC 116) public budget book sent to the Legislative Yuan ~2026-08-31: NT$36,006,581,000 over 2026-2029 for 280 aircraft, 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles (40/110/64/66 aircraft per year). Arithmetic: NT$36,006,581,000 / 280 = NT$128,594,932 per aircraft; USD $1.1356B / 280 = $4,055,714 (USD total as stated by Army Recognition). Per-aircraft figure is a budget average that bundles ground control systems, transport vehicles and other program costs.
- Contract unit priceEstimated€3.5MEstimate / observation: 2026-06 · 20 units · Greece
Greek parliament committee approval (June 2026) of a EUR 71 million V-BAT program via NSPA over four years: ten systems = 20 aircraft (6 systems/12 aircraft Hellenic Army, 4 systems/8 aircraft Hellenic Navy) with associated mission payloads and a two-year Follow-On Support package. Arithmetic: EUR 71,000,000 / 20 aircraft = EUR 3,550,000 per aircraft (EUR 7.1M per two-aircraft system). Bundles payloads, ground equipment and 2-year support; approved program value, not a signed contract price.
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.
Sources4
- 1.
Liberty Times (自由時報) · Sep 1, 2026 · Supports: Cost · quantity
“今年起至一一八年間共編列新台幣三六〇億六五八萬一千元預算，採購「智慧垂直起降型無人機」，包含二八〇架無人飛行載具、一四〇套導控系統及八十二輛運輸載具”
- 2.
Naval News · Jun 12, 2026 · Supports: Cost · amount
“six systems (12 aircraft and associated mission payloads) will be assigned to the Hellenic Army, while four systems (8 aircraft and associated mission payloads) will be delivered to the Hellenic Navy, with a two-year Follow-On Support (FOS) package included... The €71 million program”
- 3.CompanyShield AI
Supports: System
“V-BAT delivers combat-proven, expeditionary, strategic and tactical-level ISR and targeting”
- 4.NewsTaiwan prepares largest order of U.S. V-BAT drones to date in $1 billion push against Chinese forces
Army Recognition · Supports: Cost · amount
“The Taiwanese Navy has initiated an NT$36.00658 billion ($1.1356 billion) procurement program covering 2026 through 2029 to acquire 280 U.S.-made Shield AI V-BAT vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.