JSW Defence has launched construction of a new Hyderabad-based plant to produce Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft domestically under a major transfer-of-technology partnership. The $90-million facility will manufacture, assemble, and test the VTOL ISR drone, with production planned to begin in late 2026. The initiative aims to establish a long-term supply chain in India while meeting global compliance and licensing requirements. The V-BAT — already fielded with US forces — offers rapid deployment, a fixed-wing VTOL configuration, a 25-pound payload limit, and a 24-horsepower engine powering the 125-pound aircraft to 56 miles per hour and a 20,000-foot service ceiling.
