A small US surveillance drone launched from the deck of a Navy warship deep in the South China Sea is showing how future naval forces could extend their eyes far beyond the horizon without relying on aircraft carriers or large manned aircraft.

On June 17, Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) launched a V-BAT unmanned aerial system from the amphibious transport dock USS Portland while operating with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the Indo-Pacific. The demonstration showcased a growing capability that allows amphibious warships to conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions using a drone that requires neither a runway nor specialized launch infrastructure.

In an era increasingly defined by distributed operations and contested maritime environments, systems like the V-BAT offer commanders a relatively low-cost means to maintain persistent surveillance without dedicating valuable manned aircraft to reconnaissance.

A drone designed for ships without runways

According to reporting by Defence Blog, the V-BAT, officially designated the MQ-35A by the US military, is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone designed to operate from ships, expeditionary bases, and other locations where conventional aircraft would struggle to launch or recover.

Unlike traditional fixed-wing drones that require runways or catapults, the V-BAT uses a single ducted-fan propulsion system, allowing it to take off and land vertically before transitioning to forward flight. This design combines the launch flexibility of a helicopter with the endurance advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Shield AI says the system can remain airborne for more than 10 hours, carry electro-optical and infrared sensor payloads, and operate from a launch area measuring roughly 20 by 20 feet (6 by 6 meters). A two-person team can reportedly assemble and launch the aircraft in less than 30 minutes.

The compact footprint is particularly valuable aboard amphibious ships where flight deck space is limited and every square meter must be carefully managed.

Built for GPS-denied warfare

The drone uses Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, which is designed to allow the aircraft to continue operating in environments where GPS signals are degraded, denied, or deliberately jammed. 

As electronic warfare capabilities continue to proliferate, maintaining navigation and mission effectiveness without constant access to satellite signals has become increasingly important. Shield AI has previously stated that V-BAT successfully conducted long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions in Ukraine despite operating in GPS-denied environments affected by electronic warfare.

That capability is particularly relevant in the Indo-Pacific, where any future conflict would likely involve extensive jamming, communications disruption, and attempts to degrade satellite navigation systems.

Why the South China Sea matters

The South China Sea contains critical shipping lanes, disputed islands, and overlapping territorial claims involving multiple nations. For naval commanders operating there, information can be as valuable as firepower.

A warship’s radar is ultimately limited by the curvature of the Earth, restricting how far it can see. Drones help overcome that limitation by extending surveillance far beyond the ship’s sensor horizon.

With endurance exceeding ten hours, the V-BAT can provide persistent overhead coverage of surrounding waters, helping crews monitor shipping activity, identify potential threats, and maintain situational awareness across a much larger area than shipboard sensors alone would allow.

A glimpse of future naval warfare

Militaries all over the world are using smaller, autonomous systems to expand operational reach without increasing manpower or infrastructure requirements.

Rather than relying exclusively on helicopters or carrier-based aircraft for reconnaissance, warships are increasingly deploying compact drones capable of operating independently for extended periods. For amphibious groups such as the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, that means greater situational awareness while operating far from shore and without dependence on nearby airfields.

The V-BAT itself may be relatively small, but the capability it represents is significant. A warship that can launch persistent surveillance assets from virtually anywhere at sea gains a clearer picture of its surroundings, and in modern naval warfare, seeing first often matters just as much as striking first.

Recommended Articles