JSW Defence and Shield AI Strike $90M Deal to Bring Cutting-Edge Military Drone Manufacturing to India
The future of military aviation is vertical, unmanned — and now, made in India.
Mumbai/Washington, Nov 12, 2024 — In a major move to localize advanced defense technology, JSW Defence and U.S.-based Shield AI have announced a strategic partnership to manufacture the V-BAT, a next-generation AI-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS), on Indian soil.
The deal includes a $90 million investment from the JSW Group over two years — $65 million of which will be deployed in the first 12 months to build a domestic manufacturing and MRO facility, develop a compliant supply chain, and train specialized workforce.
The Aircraft: V-BAT
The V-BAT is a fixed-wing, VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drone capable of long-endurance ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) missions in combat zones. It is currently deployed by U.S. Marine Expeditionary Units and other global forces.
What sets the V-BAT apart:
- AI pilot integration with Shield AI’s proprietary Hivemind system
- Ducted-fan design for reduced logistics footprint and rapid forward deployment
- Capable of replacing helicopters or Group 5 UAS at a fraction of the cost
The Strategy: Build India as a Global UAS Hub
The partnership will make India a global production base for V-BAT systems — not just for the Indian Armed Forces, but also for export across allied nations.
Parth Jindal, of JSW Group, said:
“This partnership allows us to supply indigenous V-BATs at scale, while delivering full lifecycle services — operator training, maintenance, repair, and overhaul.”
Shield AI’s India MD Sarjan Shah added:
“This is the product of years of planning between both countries to deepen the Indo-U.S. defense supply chain.”
The Bigger Picture: U.S.–India Defense Alignment
India was designated a Major Defense Partner of the U.S. in 2016 and granted Strategic Trade Authorization Tier 1 status in 2018 — a level of trust matched only by the UAE.
Shield AI President and Co-Founder Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL, emphasized:
“The V-BAT proves that Group 3 drones can do the jobs of helicopters and larger drones — for less. JSW sees what we see: the future is swarms of low-cost, AI-piloted aircraft.”
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is developing the world’s leading AI pilot, capable of flying everything from F-16 fighter jets to quadcopters and vertical drones. Its flagship AI, Hivemind, powers real-world operations for the U.S. military and allies.
About JSW Group
The $24B JSW Group is one of India’s most diversified industrial giants, with operations spanning steel, energy, infrastructure, cement, paints, sports, and now defense. Its current defense portfolio includes the JSW ATOR specialist mobility vehicle, built for the Indian Army.
TL;DR:
- JSW & Shield AI partner to localize manufacturing of V-BAT military drones
- $90M investment from JSW over two years
- Made-in-India drones to serve Indian military and export markets
- V-BAT: AI-powered, VTOL-capable ISR aircraft with global deployments
- Part of deepening Indo-U.S. strategic defense integration
From San Diego to Mumbai, the drone wars are shifting — and India is becoming a manufacturing power in unmanned warfare.