Armenia Receives V-BAT Drones from the United States

Armenia and the United States have officially announced the start of a new phase of defense cooperation, under which Yerevan has received modern V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones.

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan announced the development.

The delivery of these U.S.-made reconnaissance drones will significantly strengthen Armenia’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. Armenian officials confirmed that the equipment has arrived and expressed gratitude to Washington for its support in enhancing the country’s defense capabilities.

The V-BAT drone, developed by Shield AI, is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Its unique ducted-fan design allows it to operate from a platform smaller than 4 by 4 meters, eliminating the need for runways or bulky catapults.

The aircraft can remain airborne for up to 10 hours, carry various sensors, and automatically detect targets using artificial intelligence.

Armenia has joined a small group of operators of this system. The primary customer for the V-BAT remains the United States Armed Forces.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps actively use these systems for reconnaissance from ship decks, where limited space prevents launching traditional fixed-wing drones. The U.S. Coast Guard employs them to combat smuggling.

The geography of V-BAT deployment is gradually expanding. Previously, the manufacturer, Shield AI, tested these drones in conditions of intense electronic warfare in Ukraine to assess the resilience of their communication systems against Russian interference.

At the time, it was reported that the drone had already carried out its first autonomous reconnaissance mission on the Ukrainian front.

“In Ukraine, V-BAT demonstrated resilience to electronic warfare systems, proving its autonomy in the most challenging conditions and successfully completing its first reconnaissance mission,” the company stated.

Last year, Brazil also selected the V-BAT to equip its army and navy, aiming to strengthen control over the Amazon region and its maritime borders. NATO member states, including Germany and the Netherlands, have also expressed interest in the system.

Militarnyi previously reported that the American company Shield AI delivered MQ-35 drones to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at the beginning of 2025.

The procurement of Shield AI drones will enable the Japanese fleet to expand its maritime reconnaissance capabilities and deploy them from more ships.