Shield AI Delivers First V-BAT Drone to Taiwan Coast Guard
Shield AI has delivered the first V-BAT unmanned aircraft to the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, the company announced from Taipei on October 13, in a release reported by Naval News on October 15. Twelve V-BATs are due over the coming months.
The Coast Guard chose the aircraft in July 2026 for its “Shipborne UAV” programme. Shield AI is delivering with its Taiwanese partner, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).
Shield AI V-BAT Delivery to the Taiwan Coast Guard
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) |
| Supplier | Shield AI, with AIDC |
| Aircraft | V-BAT, Group 3 uncrewed aircraft system |
| Programme | Shipborne UAV |
| Selection | Competitive, July 2026 |
| Quantity | Twelve V-BATs over the coming months |
| Status | First aircraft delivered; presented at the Port of Taipei on October 7 |
| Contract value | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
On October 7 the CGA showed the newly arrived aircraft at the Port of Taipei to Kuan Bi-Ling, minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, and Joseph Wu, secretary general of the National Security Council. Shield AI engineers demonstrated that the aircraft could be set up within minutes, the company said.
“V-BAT will give Taiwan’s Coast Guard the maritime domain awareness” it needs across the Taiwan Strait, said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI president and co-founder. AIDC President Jennifer Chuang said Shield AI “has strengthened its local presence and footprint in Taiwan” over the past year.
V-BAT for Taiwan’s Shipborne UAV Programme
The CGA will operate the V-BAT from ships for persistent maritime domain awareness, covering surveillance, coastal patrols and law enforcement. Because the aircraft takes off and lands vertically, it needs no runway. The release says that improves deployment flexibility, lowers cost and reduces personnel needs.
Shield AI describes the V-BAT as a ducted-fan aircraft with a heavy-fuel engine and more than 12 hours of endurance. Its single-engine, enclosed-rotor design allows unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks, rooftops and austere sites. The company also says it is built for contested electronic warfare environments. Those are manufacturer claims, not independently tested figures.
Shield AI will train CGA operators and maintenance staff and, with AIDC, set up local support in Taiwan.
Taiwan and US Coast Guard V-BAT Use Compared
| Aspect | Taiwan CGA | US Coast Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Status | First aircraft delivered in October 2026 | Already operating the V-BAT |
| Platform | Ship-based Shipborne UAV programme | Cutters; a V-BAT landed on the Legend-class cutter USCGC Kimball during RIMPAC 2026 |
| Mission | Maritime domain awareness, surveillance, coastal patrol, law enforcement | Shield AI says V-BAT helped intercept more than 100,000 pounds of narcotics last year |
| Local support | Shield AI and AIDC to build it; operator and maintainer training | Not covered in the sources reviewed |
How the Taiwan V-BAT Delivery Came Together
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Shield AI and AIDC sign a teaming agreement covering sustainment, training and autonomy integration |
| July 2026 | CGA selects V-BAT competitively for Shipborne UAV |
| October 7, 2026 | CGA presents the first aircraft at the Port of Taipei |
| October 13, 2026 | Shield AI announces the delivery from Taipei |
| October 15, 2026 | Naval News reports the story |
Shield AI Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Diego, California |
| Founded | 2015 (Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter) |
| Employees | About 1,500 (March 2026, Revelio Labs estimate) |
| CEO | Gary Steele (since March 2025) |
| Valuation | $12.7 billion post-money (Series G, March 2026) |
| Products | V-BAT, X-BAT, Hivemind autonomy software, Aechelon simulation technology |
| Known customers | US Special Operations Command, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Brazil |
What a Ship-Launched V-BAT Offers in the Taiwan Strait
A coast guard has long patrol routes and few ships. An aircraft that flies from a deck with no runway and stays up for hours can extend what one vessel sees. That reading is analysis, not a Shield AI claim. The sources do not say how many CGA ships will carry the aircraft, or how they will be assigned.
The local angle matters too. Shield AI and AIDC are building support inside Taiwan rather than shipping aircraft alone, which affects how quickly spares and training can be handled.
Shield AI V-BAT Taiwan FAQ
What did Shield AI deliver to Taiwan?
The first V-BAT unmanned aircraft for the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, delivered with partner AIDC.
How many V-BATs will Taiwan receive?
Twelve, over the coming months, according to Shield AI.
What will the Coast Guard use the V-BAT for?
Ship-based surveillance, coastal patrols, law enforcement and maritime domain awareness.
How much is the deal worth?
The sources reviewed do not state a contract value.
Who is AIDC?
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Shield AI’s Taiwanese partner. It signed a teaming agreement with Shield AI in 2025 and is helping build local support.
- Shield AI – “Shield AI Delivers First V-BATs to Taiwan, Deepening its Partnership with Taiwan Coast Guard Administration” (press release, October 2026): shield.ai
- Naval News – “Shield AI Delivers First V-BAT to Taiwan Coast Guard” (October 15, 2026): navalnews.com
- Naval Technology – “Taiwan Coast Guard receives first batch of V-BAT UAVs from Shield AI” (October 13, 2026)
- Wikipedia – Shield AI (company data); Wikimedia Commons (US Coast Guard photograph, public domain)
