The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has acquired eight V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones for deployment with the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marine Corps.
As part of a larger military modernization effort, the drones are expected to strengthen maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
According to V-BAT maker Shield AI, Dutch naval officials cited the drone’s proven performance in the Ukraine conflict as a key factor in their selection.
The V-BAT offers extended ISR and targeting functionality without relying on the Global Navigation Satellite System, providing resilience against electronic jamming.
It was also tested aboard the HNLMS Johan de Witt during NATO’s REPMUS 2024 exercise, where it completed a month-long maritime ISR trial.
