Strengthening India’s Defence Capabilities through Strategic Collaboration
A Pioneering Partnership for Drone Manufacturing
On November 12, 2024, Indian conglomerate JSW Group’s subsidiary, JSW Defence Pvt. Ltd., announced a key development. They entered into a strategic agreement with Shield AI, Inc., a U.S. defence technology company known for designing and building the V-BAT Drone. The objective of this partnership is to indigenize and manufacture this Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) within India.
The V-BAT Drone: Advancing India’s Tactical Defence
The V-BAT drone offers a unique value proposition. It presents the most advanced ISR capabilities, nestled within a compact and tactical platform. It’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The drone can be set up and deployed by a two-person team in under 20 minutes – a testament to its user-centric design.
The V-BAT Drone: Unique Design & Capability
The drone’s distinct ducted-fan propulsion system enhances stability in adverse weather conditions while improving thrust efficiency. With its compact design, featuring a wingspan of 2.95 meters and a length of 2.7 meters, the drone weighs 57 kilograms at maximum takeoff, including an 11.3-kilogram payload. This drone can operate at altitudes of up to 6,100 meters above sea level and offers up to 10 hours of endurance.
The V-BAT Drone: Diverse Applications
Given that the drone is compatible with a diverse range of payloads like electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras and wide-area search sensors, it is ideally suited for tasks such as border security, counter-narcotics operations, and threat detection. Although the V-BAT was primarily designed for ISR missions, its payload capacity can also enable it to be armed for specific missions if required. This versatile functionality has led to its successful integration into operations by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy, where its minimal logistical footprint and adaptability have proven invaluable.
Expanding India’s Technological Base
Under this partnership, the JSW Group plans to invest approximately $90 million over two years. The investment aims to foster the establishment of a compliance program, the creation of a manufacturing facility to ensure proper technology licensing, and the conduction of workforce training. This initiative is designed to assemble and test V-BAT systems in India, creating a local supply chain and advanced infrastructure. Such proactive efforts will not only fulfill the needs of the Indian Armed Forces but will also position India as a global manufacturing hub for Shield AI’s technology.
Enhancing Indigenous Capabilities
The collaboration underscores the strategic defence ties between India and the U.S., harnessing India’s engineering and manufacturing prowess. Shield AI highlighted that the V-BAT drone represents a cost-effective solution—an essential characteristic in a market shifting toward autonomous systems. This partnership is poised to enhance global distribution and operational expansion by driving local production of UAS systems. The shared vision of this collaboration is to deepen India’s indigenous capabilities in military unmanned systems and contribute to the broader goal of bolstering India’s defence technology ecosystem.
Originally Post From https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2024/strategic-partnership-between-jsw-defence-and-shield-ai-for-v-bat-drone-manufacturing-in-india
