What MartinUAV does

Martin UAV was a U.S. drone manufacturer founded in 2015 and headquartered in Addison, Texas, that developed the V-BAT, a Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and tactical targeting. The V-BAT is differentiated by a ducted-fan propulsion architecture that allows unassisted launch and recovery from ship decks as small as 4.6m x 4.6m, rooftops, and austere expeditionary sites, and pairs with a JP5 heavy-fuel engine delivering 12+ hours of endurance and a 40-pound payload capacity. The integrated ViDAR passive optical sensor provides AI-enabled wide-area coverage at 3,140 NM²/hr, and the platform is engineered for GPS-denied and communications-contested operations with SATCOM BLOS capability and STANAG-compliant open architecture.

Martin UAV was acquired by Shield AI in 2021, after which the V-BAT product line was integrated into Shield AI's defense portfolio alongside the Hivemind mission autonomy software. Following the acquisition, MartinUAV operates as a subsidiary under Shield AI's San Diego headquarters (600 W. Broadway, Suite 600); Shield AI was valued at $12.7 billion in 2026 following a $2 billion funding round led by Advent International. The business model combines hardware sales of V-BAT airframes with software licensing and integration revenue from Hivemind autonomy, distributed through direct U.S. government procurement, foreign military sales (FMS), and OEM/integration partnerships. The customer base spans the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, and allied militaries in Greece, Japan, Ukraine, Norway, Taiwan, and Romania, with Greece identified as a flagship international expansion market where Shield AI plans an Athens office.

Name

MartinUAV

Legal name

Martin UAV

Website

https://martinuav.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Martin UAV is a Shield AI subsidiary that develops the V-BAT, a Group 3 ducted-fan VTOL ISR drone with heavy-fuel endurance and AI-enabled ViDAR sensing, sold to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and allied militaries including Greece, Japan, Ukraine, Norway, Taiwan, and Romania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS / VTOL Drones)

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)

Keywords

• VTOL unmanned aircraft
• Defense ISR drones
• Autonomous mission systems
• Maritime surveillance UAS
• Military drone manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Addison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. V-BAT Drone Hardware Sales: Sale of V-BAT VTOL unmanned aircraft systems to military customers including foreign militaries and the U.S. Navy. The product is sold as a complete platform with modular payload options.
2. Autonomy Software (Hivemind): Hivemind mission autonomy software integrated onto V-BAT and other platforms, generating software licensing and subscription revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MartinUAV designs, manufactures, and sells the V-BAT, a ducted-fan vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Group 3 unmanned aircraft system for military intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions. The platform features a heavy-fuel engine, AI-enabled optical sensing, GPS- and communications-denied autonomous operation, and an open-architecture payload system for U.S. and allied defense customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• V-BAT VTOL Unmanned Aircraft System A Group 3 ducted-fan VTOL unmanned aircraft system for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and tactical targeting missions, with 12+ hours endurance, 40 lbs payload capacity, and GPS/communications-denied operation. Designed for U.S. and allied military customers needing expeditionary ISR from ship decks, austere ground sites, and rooftops.
• ViDAR Optical Sensor System First passive, multi-domain AI-enabled optical sensor system for sea and land operations, using deep learning for automatic target detection and tracking. Provides 3,140 NM²/hr coverage rate. Sold to military and defense customers as an integrated sensor payload on V-BAT.

Quantifiable outcome

• V-BAT wins head-to-head customer fly-offs against competing UAS platforms
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, key, core and minor.

• DestinusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Shield AI and Destinus partnered to integrate Hivemind onto the Destinus Hornet platform and ultimately the Destinus Ruta deep-strike cruise missile. Three phases of integration demonstrated V-BAT and Hornet multi-platform teaming, autonomous strike capabilities, and coordinated ISR-to-strike operations.
• EFA GROUPmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Shield AI and EFA GROUP signed a strategic partnership agreement at Eurosatory to develop and integrate AI pilots for unmanned systems in Greece. EFA GROUP contributes systems/platforms expertise and AI capabilities while Shield AI provides Hivemind as the autonomy baseline, enabling sovereign AI-enabled mission autonomy for Greece.
• UAV Navigation-Grupo OesíakeyTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026Shield AI and UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía signed a strategic integration partnership to expand Hivemind autonomy across European unmanned systems. Interoperability testing confirmed Hivemind can be configured to execute missions on platforms equipped with UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía's VECTOR autopilots and Mission Control Computer.
• Aechelon Technology Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Shield AI announced the planned acquisition of Aechelon Technology Inc., a Sagewind Capital portfolio company and defense software leader for high-fidelity simulation, physics-based sensors, and synthetic reality applications. Aechelon's technology is used by the U.S. military and allies to train pilots and test autonomous systems. Aechelon co-founder Ignacio (Nacho) Sanz-Pastor will continue leading Aechelon as General Manager at Shield AI.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Shield AI and MHI completed autonomous flight tests integrating Hivemind onto MHI's Affordable Rapid-Prototyping Mitsubishi-Drone (ARMD) in under 60 days. The collaboration demonstrates rapid development of mission autonomy for Japan-made autonomous systems.
• Northrop GrummanmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Northrop Grumman's Talon IQ (based on Scaled Composites Model 437) successfully flew Shield AI's Hivemind software, demonstrating open-architecture plug-and-play mission autonomy. The integration took only a single-day hardware-in-the-loop test before real-world flight.
• Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, L3Harris Technologies, Parry LabsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Shield AI served as autonomy lead in the U.S. Marine Corps' Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program alongside Airbus, L3Harris, and Parry Labs, integrating Hivemind onto the H145 helicopter. The fourth autonomous flight test period demonstrated real-time landing zone obstacle detection and autonomous rerouting to alternate landing zones.
• Airbus Defence and SpacemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Shield AI and Airbus integrated Hivemind onto Airbus's DT25 target drone for counter-UAS demonstrations. From concept discussions in March 2025 to first flight in August 2025, the partnership demonstrated autonomous target tracking and pursuit in less than six months with only two prior ground tests.
• Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and DSTAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025RSAF and DSTA partnered with Shield AI using Hivemind Enterprise to develop, test, and scale mission autonomy. During a demonstration, an Ascent SPIRIT aircraft autonomously rerouted around restricted airspace and completed a search and rescue mission across multiple flight zones.
• Shield AI (Acquirer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Shield AI acquired Martin UAV in 2021 as a strategic acquisition to expand its autonomous aircraft portfolio. The V-BAT drone became Shield AI's flagship aircraft product following this acquisition. Under Shield AI's ownership, V-BAT has grown to serve multiple international military customers and integrated with Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software.
• Greece (Hellenic Army)majorOthersGreece is a significant V-BAT customer, having signed a procurement agreement to expand its fleet of V-BAT VTOL UAS for Maritime Domain Awareness operations across the Aegean Sea. Shield AI also plans to establish an office in Athens as part of its long-term commitment to Greece.
• Japan (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force / Japan Navy)majorOthersShield AI is delivering V-BAT drones to Japan's navy, expanding maritime ISR capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Ukraine (Unmanned Systems Forces)majorOthersUkraine is operating V-BAT drones in combat, including in GPS- and communications-denied environments. Shield AI has established local presence in Ukraine and is conducting training with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces.
• NorwayminorOthersNorway is one of several NATO allies operating or evaluating V-BAT systems for defense applications.
• TaiwanminorOthersTaiwan is one of several allied nations operating or evaluating V-BAT systems for defense applications.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AeroVironment: U.S. manufacturer of tactical unmanned aircraft systems (Puma, Switchblade, JUMP) for military ISR and loitering munitions. Most directly comparable to V-BAT as a small-to-medium military UAS provider targeting expeditionary ISR and tactical missions for U.S. and allied forces.
• Anduril Industries: U.S. defense technology company producing autonomous systems including the Roadrunner and Bolt family of UAS for ISR and counter-UAS missions. Direct competitor to V-BAT in the contested EW, autonomous tactical UAS category, with strong software/autonomy overlap via Lattice.
• Textron Systems: Subsidiary of Textron that produces the Aerosonde family of tactical UAS, including the MQ-9B SeaGuardian-relevant smaller variants used by U.S. and allied militaries. Direct competitor in Group 3 maritime and expeditionary ISR.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: U.S. defense manufacturer of tactical and attritable unmanned aircraft (XQ-58 Valkyrie, XQ-222, MQM-178 Firejet). Competes with V-BAT in the tactical autonomous military UAS market, particularly for affordable, expeditionary platforms.
• Insitu (Boeing): Boeing subsidiary producing the ScanEagle and Integrator tactical ISR UAS for U.S. and allied military customers. Direct competitor to V-BAT in the small tactical ISR category, with deep U.S. Navy and international military penetration.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major U.S. defense prime producing tactical UAS (FVR-90, robotican systems integration) alongside broader defense electronics. Competes with V-BAT in tactical military UAS and is a co-participant with Shield AI in the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector program.
• Elbit Systems: Israeli defense company producing the Hermes 900, Hermes 450, and other tactical UAS used by numerous allied militaries. Direct competitor to V-BAT in the medium-altitude, long-endurance tactical ISR category for export military customers.

Broad incumbents

• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: Incumbent manufacturer of the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator family of large UAS for the U.S. Air Force and allies. Operates in the broader military UAS market at the larger Group 4/5 class that V-BAT positions itself against as a smaller, expeditionary alternative.
• Northrop Grumman: Major U.S. defense prime producing the RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-8 Firescout, and tactical autonomy platforms (Talon IQ via Scaled Composites). Competes broadly in military UAS and is also a Shield AI Hivemind integration partner, making it an adjacent incumbent and ecosystem participant.

Emerging players

• Performance Drone Works (PDW): Emerging U.S. small tactical UAS manufacturer focused on Group 1/2 sUAS for military and federal customers (e.g., C-100). Represents a newer entrant competing at the lower end of the expeditionary tactical UAS category that V-BAT also addresses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1stvbat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MartinUAV