Shield AI is expanding its presence in Ukraine, where its autonomous systems are being tested under live combat conditions.
In a recent message, James Lythgoe, Shield AI’s Ukraine managing director and a former U.K. Royal Marin, outlined the company’s efforts to support Ukrainian forces through on-the-ground operations, combat-driven innovation, and close cooperation with frontline units.
“One year on, I’m proud of what our Shield AI team has achieved in Ukraine,” he wrote, referencing new facilities, financial aid, veteran programs, and direct operational support.
As the war continues to challenge traditional military platforms, Shield AI says its work in Ukraine reflects a broader shift toward adaptive, AI-powered systems capable of surviving and performing in complex, high-threat environments.
The company has trained over five Ukrainian units, supported daily operations, and developed a new aircraft shaped by combat experience and frontline feedback.
“Shield AI is humbled to stand alongside [Ukrainians] — on the right side of history — doing our part to ensure freedom prevails,” James added.
Shield AI, headquartered in San Diego, was founded with the mission of protecting service members and civilians through artificial intelligence and autonomy. In Ukraine, the company says that mission has become tangible through on-the-ground support, innovation, and real-world impact.
In January 2025, Shield AI revealed additional details about its V-BAT drone’s deployment and testing in Ukraine throughout 2024. According to the company, the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle was used under combat conditions to assess its performance and resilience in an environment saturated with Russian electronic warfare.
Shield AI said the first V-BAT units were delivered to Ukraine in June 2024, with a team of developers on-site to assist in field testing. The drones reportedly executed successful missions despite widespread GPS disruption and communications jamming — conditions that have proven difficult for many Western and Soviet-era UAV platforms.
In one confirmed operation, the V-BAT was used to locate and identify a Russian SA-11 Buk-M1 mobile air defense system. Ukrainian forces subsequently destroyed the target using HIMARS precision rocket artillery. According to Shield AI, the engagement underscored the V-BAT’s effectiveness in both ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) and targeting roles.
The V-BAT platform is manufactured in Dallas, Texas, and has already seen international deliveries totaling approximately 250 units. In the United States, it is used by operators such as the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the U.S. Coast Guard, which is expected to begin receiving units in 2025.
Shield AI says the drone is being adopted not only to replace aging ISR systems but also to launch entirely new drone programs for allied customers. Its VTOL capabilities, combined with long-endurance performance and electronic warfare resistance, position it as a flexible solution for missions in contested airspace.
The company’s operations in Ukraine have become a proving ground for how autonomous systems can support frontline forces in fast-evolving combat scenarios. As Russian forces continue to rely on heavy jamming and complex air defense networks, Western-made UAVs are under pressure to adapt quickly. The V-BAT’s ability to operate in this environment offers insight into how militaries may shift their reliance toward more adaptive, AI-driven platforms.
“In Ukraine, that mission is not just words — it’s action, innovation, and impact,” James wrote, promising that “more announcements are coming soon.”
Shield AI’s work in Ukraine also highlights a growing trend: the integration of U.S.-developed autonomous technologies into allied defense ecosystems, not simply through exports, but through close partnership with local units. The V-BAT’s success under Ukrainian command may influence procurement decisions beyond Europe as defense planners reevaluate ISR and drone strike capabilities for near-peer conflicts.