JSW Defence Unveils Cutting-Edge V-BAT UAV at Dronathon 2026 in Pokhran, India

JSW Defence Unveils Cutting-Edge V-BAT UAV at Dronathon 2026 in Pokhran, India\n\nJSW Defence recently showcased the V-BAT UAV at the Indian Air Force's Dronathon 2026, an operational evaluation exercise held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer from September 14-16. The event brought together senior IAF officials, including the IAF's Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, to assess the V-BAT's potential and application.\n\nDronathon 2026 was an opportunity for the IAF to evaluate various themes, including surveillance and reconnaissance, autonomy, swarming, and electronic warfare. The V-BAT, developed by Shield AI, is a unique Group 3, fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV. Its ducted fan propulsion system enables it to take off and land vertically, transitioning to a fixed-wing aircraft for a longer range.\n\nShield AI provides an endurance of more than 12 hours, a gross take-off weight of 75 kg or more, and a payload of up to 18.1 kg for the V-BAT. The UAV uses a heavy fuel engine and is capable of operating in confined spaces, including on the decks of ships.\n\nJSW Defence and Shield AI inked a strategic partnership agreement in 2024 to indigenise and manufacture the UAV in India. JSW has earmarked an investment of $90 million for the business, including manufacturing, assembly, testing, training, and building a local supply chain. The facility is not just for meeting the needs of the IAF but also potentially for becoming a global centre of excellence for UAVs.\n\nAccording to Shield AI, the V-BAT can be positioned closer to the line of contact to give electro-optical/infrared surveillance, spotting, and tracking capabilities to commanders. It is also designed to operate in GPS-denied and communication-jammed environments.\n\nThe IAF's choice of Pokhran as the venue for live demo of V-BAT makes it clear that the service is looking to evaluate the technology for actual use rather than mere display. The V-BAT's capabilities and potential applications make it an exciting development in the Indian defence sector.\n\nThe V-BAT's ability to operate in confined spaces and its endurance of over 12 hours make it an attractive option for various military operations. Its payload capacity of up to 18.1 kg also makes it suitable for carrying out surveillance and reconnaissance missions.\n\nJSW Defence's strategic partnership with Shield AI is a significant step towards indigenising and manufacturing the V-BAT in India. The investment of $90 million will help establish a local supply chain and create a centre of excellence for UAVs.\n\nIn conclusion, the V-BAT UAV showcased at Dronathon 2026 is a cutting-edge technology that has the potential to revolutionise the Indian defence sector. Its capabilities and potential applications make it an exciting development, and JSW Defence's strategic partnership with Shield AI is a significant step towards indigenising and manufacturing the UAV in India.