Taiwan Navy budgets NT$36 billion over 2026-2029 for 280 Shield AI V-BAT drones
- Amount
- $1.1B
- Place in VP50
- #7
- Sources
- 2
- Claims verified
- 8 of 8
What happened
Liberty Times reported on August 31, 2026 that Taiwan's Navy plans to buy 280 V-BAT vertical-takeoff drones from Shield AI, with the item listed under the Navy Command in the Ministry of National Defense's public 2027 budget book. The budget is NT$36,006,581,000. The purchase also covers 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles. Liberty Times said the Navy would start budgeting this year and phase the aircraft in over four years.
The reported delivery schedule is 40 aircraft in 2026, 110 in 2027, 64 in 2028 and 66 in 2029. Army Recognition, citing Liberty Times, put the program at about US$1.1356 billion and said it exceeds the roughly 250 V-BATs Shield AI had delivered worldwide by late 2024. Both outlets describe a budgeted procurement plan. Neither reports a signed contract, and Liberty Times does not say whether the Legislative Yuan has approved the item. Neither report included a statement from Shield AI. The Navy said the aircraft would give maritime and battlefield awareness and keep working under GPS jamming.
Key points
- Liberty Times reported on Aug 31, 2026 a Navy budget of NT$36,006,581,000 in the public 2027 defense budget book.1
- The plan covers 280 V-BATs, 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles.12
- Deliveries are scheduled as 40 in 2026, 110 in 2027, 64 in 2028 and 66 in 2029.12
- Army Recognition put the program at about US$1.1356 billion; no signed contract is reported.2
Why it matters
The item points to a national navy as a buyer for Shield AI's main product, and the multi-year schedule gives a view of possible deliveries. It is a budget line, not a contract.
Army Recognition says the order is larger than the roughly 250 V-BATs Shield AI had delivered worldwide by late 2024. If it proceeds, it would be large against the company's delivery history.
The reports state no contract and no legislative approval. Until a contract is signed, the revenue behind the plan is not confirmed.
In context
| Round | Date | Post-money valuation | Raised | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | Jun 9, 2022 | $2.3B | $165M | Snowpoint Ventures |
| Series E extension | Dec 13, 2022 | $2.3B | $60M | US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) |
| Series F | Oct 31, 2023 | $2.7B | $200M | Riot Ventures and U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) |
| Series F extension | Dec 29, 2023 | $2.8B | $100M | Unknown |
| Series F-1 | Mar 6, 2025 | $5.3B | $240M | Unknown |
| Series G | Mar 26, 2026 | $13B | $1.5B | Advent International and Strategic Investment Group of JPMorganChase's Security and Resiliency Initiative |
Updated
Fact-check
- Taiwan's Navy budgeted NT$36,006,581,000 for the V-BAT program in the 2027 budget book.Confirmed by [1] Liberty Times: the amount is listed under the Navy Command in the Ministry of National Defense's public 2027 budget book. [2] Army Recognition gives NT$36.00658 billion.Verified
- Liberty Times identifies the V-BAT as built by US company Shield AI, and the item sits under the Navy Command in the 2027 budget book.Confirmed by [1] Liberty Times, which names Shield AI as the maker and lists the item under the Navy Command in the Ministry of National Defense's 2027 budget book.Verified
- The program covers 280 V-BATs, 140 control systems and 82 transport vehicles.Confirmed by [1] Liberty Times and [2] Army Recognition, which both list these quantities.Verified
- Deliveries are 40 in 2026, 110 in 2027, 64 in 2028 and 66 in 2029.Confirmed by [1] Liberty Times and [2] Army Recognition, which give the same yearly schedule.Verified
- The program is worth about US$1.1356 billion.Confirmed by [2] Army Recognition, which states NT$36.00658 billion (US$1.1356 billion); [1] Liberty Times gives the amount in NT$ only.Verified
- No signed contract is reported.Neither [1] Liberty Times nor [2] Army Recognition states that a contract was signed; both describe a budgeted procurement plan.Verified
- The order exceeds the roughly 250 V-BATs Shield AI had delivered worldwide by late 2024.Confirmed by [2] Army Recognition's body text, which describes the roughly 250 figure as cumulative deliveries by late 2024.Verified
- Liberty Times does not report whether the item has legislative approval, and Shield AI made no statement.[1] Liberty Times reports no legislative approval for the item, and [2] Army Recognition includes no Shield AI statement.Verified
Sources
- [1]Liberty Times (opens in a new tab)海軍四年360億「機密轉公開」 將買280架V-BAT垂直起降無人機
- [2]Army Recognition (opens in a new tab)Taiwan prepares largest order of U.S. V-BAT drones to date in $1 billion push against Chinese forces
