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India.com
29-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Trouble for Pakistan and China as India strikes big deal to make these highly advanced, deadly combat drones, they are..., their features...
(Image: Martin UAV) New Delhi: After Operation Sindoor, India is preparing to buy state-of-the-art combat drones. For this, the combat drone that India is considering purchasing and incorporating technology from is the V-Bat combat drone, which is manufactured by the American defence company Shield AI. This deal is being done under an emergency purchase of $ 4.5 billion, which has been launched in view of the needs after Operation Sindoor. Although India is far ahead in drone technology, but here the need is for combat drones, in which the Indian companies are currently short of money. The biggest thing is that if the deal is finalized, then these combat drones will soon be made in India itself, because talks are also going on about technology transfer from Shield AI. What is the deal the Ministry of Defence has made for combat drones? Mint has recently published a report, according to which the Ministry of Defence is in a deal for combat drones with Shield AI. India is looking to buy V-Bat combat drones from Shield AI for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These drones are for use in war and have shown very good performance so far. Once the deal is finalised, Shield AI will first give the V-Bat combat drone to the Indian Air Force, and then it will be produced in India in a joint venture. There is a plan to produce it in India in a joint venture between JSW Defence and Shield AI. JSW Defence is a company of JSW Group. What is the total amount involved in combat drones deal? According to the report, this initial deal with the Indian Air Force will be worth $ 35 million, which is the upper limit of emergency purchase. While the joint venture that JSW Defense and Shield AI will set up for technology transfer to manufacture it in India, that deal will be worth $ 90 million. Later, this deal with the Air Force can be expanded further. Why is India so keen to enhance its indigenous combat drones? If the deal between Shield AI and the Ministry of Defence is finalised, then these drones can come to the Indian Air Force in the first half of 2026. As far as the V-Bat combat drone is concerned, the production of this indigenous drone is expected by the end of 2027. If the American company is ready to set up a joint venture in India in this way in the field of defence, then it can be considered a major achievement in the field of defence manufacturing. Because, after Operation Sindoor, India is feeling a great need to be prepared for contactless war. What are the features of V-Bat Combat Drone? The speciality of Shield AI's V-Bat combat drone is that it can be used even without GPS. Not only this, it is capable of working even in jammed network systems. This can easily give an edge to those who use these drones in modern warfare. Ukraine has shocked the whole world by using this drone against Russia. These drones can hit targets with such accuracy that the drones being made in India are not as capable as these drones. In India, Idea Forge and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are currently making indigenous drones.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India set to build US-origin combat drones at home in rare tech transfer deal
India is close to clinching a landmark deal with US-based defence tech firm Shield AI to acquire and locally manufacture its V-BAT combat drones, marking a rare instance of technology transfer in India's defence procurement landscape. As reported by Mint, the deal is part of a $4.5 billion emergency procurement programme initiated shortly after Operation Sindoor. Under the plan, the Defence Ministry is in advanced talks with Shield AI to supply enhanced V-BAT drones to the Indian Air Force (IAF), while simultaneously setting up a domestic production line through a joint venture with JSW Defence, a division of the JSW Group. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category CXO Design Thinking MCA Leadership Data Science Others PGDM Technology Data Analytics Management healthcare Degree Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Project Management Public Policy Cybersecurity Product Management Finance Healthcare Data Science Skills you'll gain: Technology Strategy & Innovation Emerging Technologies & Digital Transformation Leadership in Technology Management Cybersecurity & Risk Management Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Technology Officer Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Strategy Development Expertise Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends Data-driven Decision Making Leadership in the Digital Age Duration: 40 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Digital Officer Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Operations Strategy for Business Excellence Organizational Transformation Corporate Communication & Crisis Management Capstone Project Presentation Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow Chief Operations Officer Programme Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details The first contract for the IAF is expected to be worth $35 million, the ceiling for emergency procurement contracts. But the broader collaboration goes well beyond acquisition. The companies have inked a $90-million joint venture agreement that includes full transfer of technology (ToT) to JSW, enabling large-scale local manufacturing, assembly, and testing of the V-BAT system in India. As part of the JV, JSW Group will invest $90 million over two years, $65 million of which will be deployed in the first 12 months. This will cover the establishment of a global compliance programme, set up manufacturing facilities, and train local manpower to handle the licensed tech. The plan is not just to meet Indian defence requirements but to make the country a global production hub for the V-BAT, which is already deployed by several international forces including the United States Marine Expeditionary Units. Live Events The V-BAT is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone with fixed wings and long endurance capabilities. Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, it's built for tactical deployments in challenging environments, from special forces operations to front-line support for infantry, armoured, and artillery units. Its patented ducted design allows for a minimal logistics footprint and quick, flexible deployment. If finalised, the deal would mark a significant shift in India's approach to defence acquisitions, moving from outright purchase to co-development and localised production of advanced weapon systems.
Mint
27-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Operation Sindoor spurs $4.5 billion drive for cutting-edge defence technology
The Indian Air Force, Army and Navy will gain greater access to sophisticated global defence technology under an emergency procurement package cumulatively worth about $4.5 billion, three officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Mint. The project, approved shortly after Operation Sindoor, is designed to fill gaps in India's national defence technologies, giving the three defence arms access to technologies from the US and other trusted nations as early as next year. The emergency procurement programme is largely focused on uninterrupted space surveillance technologies, data analytics, and combat drones, the officials said, requesting anonymity owing to the sensitive nature of the deals. 'Roughly, each emergency procurement deal for cutting-edge defence technologies that any of the forces sign can be worth $30-35 million," one of the officials said, adding that more than 100 such deals are expected to be evaluated and closed by the end of this year. 'The most sophisticated technologies are right now not within the capabilities of Indian manufacturers, which necessitates us to procure cutting-edge weaponry from outside of India," said the second of the three officials. 'For the most part, the decisions were also sparked by dynamics among India's geographical neighbours and their internal collaborations, urging the ministry of defence to expedite India's access to contactless warfare infrastructure," this official said. The Indian Air Force is also in talks with multiple combat drone suppliers from the US, Israel, Ukraine and Russia to evaluate sourcing of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the officials. The ministry of defence did not reply to emails sent on 22 July. Room for larger collaborations Procurement deals for the defence technologies are expected to be finalised by November for imports, and access likely to be made available as early as the first half of the next calendar year, according to the officials. While each deal would be of a relatively small quantum, the initial commercial agreements signed between the defence forces and the foreign entities in question would leave the room open for larger collaborations, the officials said. Currently, US defence supplier Shield AI is working with JSW Group's aerospace and military services subsidiary, JSW Defence and Aerospace, to indigenize its V-Bat drones. The two entities signed a $90-million partnership in December. A senior executive close to developments said Shield AI is in talks with the Indian Air Force to be a supplier as part of India's emergency procurement programme. 'The goal for Shield is two-pronged: to start with supplying its V-Bat drones to India as part of the emergency procurement programme, and subsequently be JSW Defence's technology partner in India's goal of using indigenous combat drones in the long run," the executive added, declining to be identified. Shield AI did not respond to Mint's queries emailed on 24 July. Other global defence technology vendors have also expressed interest in India's emergency procurement programme. 'India is one of the world's largest economies, and as we saw as part of the recent Operation Sindoor skirmish, non-contact warfare is a crucial aspect of future national security strategies," said Sameer Patil, director of centre for security, strategy and technology at global think-tank Observer Research Foundation. 'India's emergency procurement push involves both loitering munition and precision stand-off capabilities, which would expand India's conventional warfighting capabilities without having to climb the nuclear escalation ladder," Patil said. 'In case of major previous threats to national security such as in 2008 and 2016, the availability of cutting-edge drones and precision munitions is what India lacked." Sharper eye in the sky The uninterrupted space surveillance technology India is seeking will require ultra-high-resolution satellites as well as low-latency transmissions for round-the-clock operations. 'India's current surveillance satellite infrastructure is not sufficient to provide continuous surveillance because of the limited numbers. The gap is presently filled by taking imagery from foreign commercial companies," said Anil Kumar Bhatt, director general of space industry body, Indian Space Association. 'India's Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) programme, under the Centre, is currently being implemented to bring such capabilities through 52 satellites, of which 31 will be supplied by the private sector," he added. For deeper capability building in defence technology, however, India needs to invest actively in research and development. The current emergency procurement contracts are not expected to come with indigenisation and technology transfer agreements. The current spree of emergency procurement 'underlines India's need to invest in defence-led research and development, including incentivizing the private sector to spend more," said Patil. Incidentally, in the 2025-26 Union Budget, the government increased the allocation to India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) by 12% to $3.1 billion.
Malaysian Reserve
09-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Shield AI V-BAT Selected by Netherlands Ministry of Defence to Equip Navy and Marine Corps
DEN HELDER, Netherlands, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft, today announced that the Netherlands Ministry of Defence has procured eight V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps. The deal was publicly announced at the Maritime Uncrewed event hosted by the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder, where officials highlighted the V-BAT acquisition as part of a broader effort to modernize the force. The decision to procure V-BAT reflects a decisive and focused push to field battle-proven, autonomy-enabled systems capable of operating in contested environments and without reliance on GNSS for navigation or mission execution. 'V-BAT's small logistical footprint, ease of use and the possibility to deploy from a wide range of vessels make it well-suited for our operational needs,' said a spokesperson for the Netherlands Royal Navy. 'We're integrating this system to strengthen our naval ISR capabilities and ensure continued interoperability with NATO forces.' This Navy's decision was informed in part by V-BAT's demonstrated success in Ukraine – where the platform is executing long-range, long-endurance ISR and targeting with complete independence from GNSS. V-BAT also conducted a successful month-long flight trial during NATO's REPMUS 2024 exercise, where V-BAT conducted maritime ISR operations aboard the HNLMS Johan de Witt. That event helped validate the system's shipboard performance and informed the Dutch Ministry's decision-making process. 'V-BAT was built for the types of missions the Dutch Navy and Marine Corps are preparing for—dynamic, distributed, and high-stakes,' said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI's President and Co-founder. 'It's operational today, proven in the most demanding combat environments, and delivers mission-critical capabilities unmatched by any other system. The Netherlands has a strong reputation for fielding cutting-edge capabilities quickly and effectively, and it's great to see them join a growing list of U.S. allies and partners choosing V-BAT for its flexibility, performance, and mission readiness.' The V-BAT is the only single-engine ducted-fan vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operationally deployed across multiple regions worldwide. Its compact footprint and ability to launch and recover in confined spaces make it ideal for shipborne and austere environments, ensuring flexibility and resilience in complex missions. V-BAT has earned its reputation for reliability, operating with impunity in GPS-denied and comms-contested environments. Its proven performance in regions like Ukraine, the Black Sea, and the Indo-Pacific demonstrates its ability to withstand advanced electronic warfare threats that have grounded many traditional drones. About Shield AI Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI's technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram. Media Contact: Lily Hinz; media@
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RTX, Shield AI Partner to Integrate Advanced AI, Autonomy into Defense Products
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is one of the best US stocks to buy and hold in 2025. On July 1, RTX announced a partnership with Shield AI. The collaboration will integrate Shield AI's advanced capabilities, such as its Hivemind autonomy software and Visual Detection and Ranging/ViDAR software, into select RTX defense products, such as loitering munitions and sensors. This work will be fully funded by RTX and Shield AI themselves, without government investment. RTX plans to integrate Shield AI's Hivemind, which is an AI pilot for military and commercial aircraft, enabling missions without GPS, communications, or remote piloting, to field the first operational weapon powered by Networked Collaborative Autonomy/NCA. An aerial view of a commercial jetliner in flight, its airframe glinting in the sun. NCA is a breakthrough technology that combines real-time coordination, resilience, and combat-proven firepower. Additionally, Shield AI's ViDAR software, which enables automated AI-based sensor autonomy for detecting, identifying, geolocating, and tracking objects using wide-area motion imagery, will be integrated with RTX's Multi-Spectral Targeting System/MTS. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is an aerospace and defense company that provides systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers in the US and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of RTX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
