New GPS-denied Navigation and Target Designation Features for V-BAT UAS

The V-BAT vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) from Martin UAV is designed to modernize U.S. Army reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities in GPS-denied environments By DA Staff / 08 Sep 2021

GPS Denied Navigation

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 7 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Martin UAV V-BAT
Follow DA

Northrop Grumman Corporation and Martin UAV have completed successful flight testing of a V-BAT Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) with new features including GPS-denied navigation and target designation capabilities.

“The enhanced V-BAT offers a near zero footprint, flexible Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability that is based on a platform deployed operationally today, to address the U.S. Army’s Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) mission,” said Kenn Todorov, sector vice president and general manager, global sustainment and modernization, Northrop Grumman. 

“The team brings more than 30 years’ experience in the production, delivery and sustainment of UAS to support this critical mission today and into the future.”

For FTUAS, the U.S. Army is seeking a rapidly deployable, GPS-denied navigation-capable, expeditionary VTOL system capable of persistent aerial reconnaissance for the Brigade Combat Teams, Special Forces, and Ranger battalions.

The company’s offering is based on the Martin UAV V-BAT, a compact, lightweight, and easy to operate UAS. The V-BAT can be set up, launched and recovered by a two-soldier team in complex, confined environments, and is designed with sufficient payload capacity to carry a range of interchangeable payloads, including electro-optical/infra-red, synthetic aperture radar, and electronic warfare payloads.

Shield AI’s acquisition of Martin UAV will enable rapid development of GPS-denied and autonomy capabilities for V-BAT through the future porting of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy stack onto V-BAT.

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Tyto Robotics: Propeller Balancing Methods for UAVs

Tyto Robotics highlights how static, dynamic, and aerodynamic propeller balancing methods correct vibration-related issues in UAV systems

May 12, 2025
Meltio Expands Metal Additive Manufacturing Presence to Portugal

Meltio has partnered with PrimeOut to drive metal 3D printing commercialization and integration in Portugal

May 12, 2025
Creomagic Partnership Delivers Integrated Tactical Communications & Surveillance System

Creomagic and RT LTA have partnered to develop SkyCnet, an integrated aerostat-based system that enhances tactical communications and situational awareness for defense and security operations

May 12, 2025
MIL-STD-461-Ready Rugged Computers at FEINDEF 2025

Neousys and Cenvalsa to showcase extreme-rugged, MIL-STD-461-ready computers at FEINDEF 2025 in Madrid, 12th to 14th May at booth 6A03

May 12, 2025
Precision Inertial Navigation Solutions for GPS-Denied Operations

ANELLO Photonics is a developer of cutting-edge inertial navigation solutions that enable military vehicles, aircraft, naval vessels and other platforms...

May 12, 2025
DTC & Idaho National Laboratory to Advance Secure Mission-Critical Communications

DTC and Idaho National Laboratory have partnered under a CRADA to develop secure, resilient communication technologies for mission-critical defense and national security operations

May 12, 2025

Featured Content

U.S. Army Partnership Advances Autonomous Helicopter Logistics Program

The U.S. Army is partnering with Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy to retrofit Black Hawk helicopters with scalable autonomy kits for uncrewed logistics operations

May 08, 2025
Modular Head-Mounted Digital System for Real-Time Decision Support in Contested Environments

Galvion's new CORTEX™ system integrates compute, power, and data management into a modular helmet-mounted platform designed for modern tactical operations.

May 06, 2025
Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.