Shield AI's V-BAT selected for DoD's APFIT pilot program
SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Shield AI, a fast-growing defense technology company building AI pilots for aircraft, today announced its inclusion in the first set of projects selected to receive funding for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering's (OUSD(R&E)) pilot program to Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies, also known as APFIT.
"This is a win-win. For the warfighter, they will not have to wait the average 4-6 years to receive new tools and products to do their jobs more effectively. For Shield AI and the V-BAT, selection by a joint-strategic office like OUSD R&E alongside its selection for SOCOM and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Multi-Mission Tactical UAS program last year — in addition to ongoing deployments with Marine Expeditionary Units in support of Force Design 2030 and widespread adoption with international program offices — it's further proof that our V-BAT is a very special aircraft. Everyone is choosing V-BAT," said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI's co-founder, President, and former Navy SEAL.
Shield AI's APFIT project involves the initial procurement of V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) — semi-autonomous, long-loiter, vertical takeoff, and landing-capable UASs with modular payload capability — that can provide resilient data transport and locate and provide weapon quality targeting information as part of the Joint Sensing Grid to JADC2.
Read the full press release here.