Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces secretly utilized experimental V-BAT drones developed by the American company Shield AI on the battlefield. The details were shared by the company's head, Brandon Tseng, who noted that the drones were received by our military back in June and were primarily tested for their performance under the conditions of Russian electronic warfare.
Now, it has come to light that the Indian company JSW Group has formed a joint venture with Shield AI, as India aims to establish V-BAT drone production domestically. They plan to invest approximately $90 million in this project over the next two years, which will be used to construct a factory, train employees, and more. Of this amount, the majority, specifically $65 million, will be allocated within the first 12 months.
"These efforts will enable the establishment of full-scale V-BAT production in India to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces and to serve as a global manufacturing hub for Shield AI," the press release from the American company states.
The V-BAT drone manufacturer emphasizes that this weaponry on the battlefield can take on some of the roles currently performed by helicopters and larger drones, while the V-BAT mission will be more cost-effective.
Regarding India, the publication Breaking Defense reminds us that the country is currently implementing a large-scale program called Atmanirbharta, which prioritizes foreign companies willing to manufacture weapons and military equipment in India.
As an example, it was noted that a year ago, plans were announced for the U.S. to establish production of Stryker armored vehicles in India, and later, this year, plans emerged for the country to set up localized production of Javelin anti-tank missile systems.