Additional V-BAT drones reportedly ordered for Greek army and navy

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered additional V-BAT unmanned aircraft from Shield for the Greek land and naval forces, reports Defence Industry Europe, a Polish publication covering the European defence industry. The information about the order comes from that report. At the time of publication, Flank had found no independent confirmation.

Greece already uses V-BAT on land and at sea

According to Defence Industry Europe, Greece already uses V-BAT for reconnaissance and surveillance on land and at sea. If confirmed, the order would expand the existing fleet rather than introduce a new aircraft type.

Shield, quoted by the publication, cites the ability of the two services to use common training and maintenance procedures as an advantage. This could facilitate cooperation between them, but does not in itself indicate how joint tasks will be organised.

According to Defence Industry Europe, the order was placed through NSPA’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Support Partnership. The mechanism described by the publication provides for countries to retain ownership and control of the aircraft. This therefore concerns the acquisition of aircraft for Greek forces through the allied agency, rather than a NATO-owned drone fleet.

V-BAT can operate from islands, coastal sites and ships

According to Shield, quoted by the defence industry publication Defence Industry Europe, V-BAT takes off and lands vertically and can fly for more than 12 hours. The publication says the aircraft does not require specialised launch equipment. Company representative James Lithgow identifies the Aegean region as suitable for the system because it can operate from islands, coastal sites and ships without relying on runways.

This combination allows prolonged surveillance from different deployment sites. However, the endurance of a single flight does not mean continuous surveillance. That requires sufficient aircraft, maintenance and reliable transmission of the information collected to commanders.

According to the report, Shield also claims that V-BAT has demonstrated resilience in the absence of GPS and communications. Without a description of the tests, it is not possible to assess under what conditions the system retains its capabilities. This does not prove that it is immune to electronic countermeasures.

Number ordered and contract value not disclosed

Flank has so far found no official announcement from NSPA or Shield about the order. The number of aircraft, contract value, delivery schedule and allocation between the land and naval forces are unknown. These details are needed to assess the scale of the acquisition. Further information may be added.