JSW Defence, an Indian manufacturer of defense equipment, will invest around $90 million in the next two years to build a production facility for Shield AI’s vertical takeoff and landing drone, V-BAT, designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence missions.
Shield AI entered into an agreement with JSW Defence to establish a global production hub in India for the Group 3 unmanned aerial system and make the product readily available to the Indian Armed Forces to enhance the country’s defense capabilities.
JSW Defence will spend $65 million of its total investment in the first 12 months to establish a global compliance program, build the manufacturing facility for large-scale V-BAT production and provide manpower training.
Parth Jindal, a managing director at JSW Group, said the partnership with Shield AI also includes providing flight operator training and end-to-end maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the Indian Armed Forces.
The U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of the international armed forces that deploy VBAT for ISR missions.
According to Brandon Tseng, Shield AI president, the collaboration will enhance the Indo-U.S. strategic partnership, citing India’s designation as a U.S. major defense partner. As a Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status-holder, India has license-free access to various military and dual-use technologies regulated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.