JSW Group partners with US tech firm Shield AI to manufacture unmanned aerial system

JSW Group on Tuesday said it has partnered with US-based defence tech company Shield AI, Inc to manufacture unmanned aerial system (UAS) and plans to invest USD 90 million in domestic defence sector over next two years.

This collaboration marks a significant step in boosting India's defence capabilities by bringing world-class UAS techlogy to country, JSW Group said in a statement.

group has entered into a partnership through its arm JSW Defence Pvt Ltd "to indigenise and manufacture Shield AI's V-BAT, a Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)".

As part of partnership, JSW Group said it will invest around USD 90 million in defence sector over next two years, with USD 65 million allocated in first 12 months.

investment will enable group to establish a local supply chain and create an vanced facility in India for manufacturing, assembling and testing V-BAT aircraft.

V-BAT is a fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), long endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, currently deployed by multiple armed forces around world, including US Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs).

"Through this partnership, we will be able to supply indigeus V-BATs at scale, provide flight operator training, and end-to-end maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) services to Indian Armed Forces," Parth Jindal of JSW Group said.

It will serve needs of Indian Armed Forces and also function as a global production hub for Shield AI.