Stories
India and US Team Up to Turn Small Warships into Mini Aircraft Carriers
- •India and the US are placing multi-million-dollar bets on deck-launched unmanned drones to convert ordinary warships into mini aircraft carriers.
- •The Indian Navy's Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System program aims to procure around 40 systems for warships over 100 meters to enhance ISR capabilities.
- •JSW Group and American company Shield AI are partnering to manufacture the runway-independent V-Bat drone locally under the Make in India initiative.
- •The US is advancing combat capabilities with AI-powered drones like the X-BAT, featuring a 3,700 KM range and Hivemind AI pilot control for GPS-denied environments.
Key Questions Answered
Following green light approval from the Defense Acquisition Council in July 2026, the Indian Navy issued its industry notice, with the deal fully expected to be finalized by January 2027 to procure about 40 systems for warships longer than 100 meters, featuring at least 60% indigenous content under Make in India.
Each system under the Indian Navy's Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System program will feature two drones, a primary control station, and a standby station to execute ISR missions like anti-piracy, counter-terrorism, and search-and-rescue.
Shield AI's X-BAT is an AI-powered vertical takeoff drone featuring a 39-foot wingspan, a 2,000-nautical-mile range, and strike capabilities at an altitude of 50,000 feet, controlled by a Hivemind AI pilot to operate even when GPS and communications are jammed.
