Strategic Alliance for RCN’s ISTAR Project

Team V-BAT has unveiled a partnership involving three specialized technical firms, each contributing their unique expertise to create a low-risk, non-developmental approach for the royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) initiative.

Key Contributors to the Project

Voyageur Aviation Corp., a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation, will deliver comprehensive airworthiness assessments, specialized mission services, lifecycle management, and ongoing support. Meanwhile, shield.AI will supply the V-BAT tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and Kongsberg Geospatial will be responsible for the control stations and shipboard system interfaces.

Capabilities of the V-BAT UAS

The Shield.AI V-BAT is designed for operations aboard ships and has demonstrated its effectiveness through thousands of hours of deployment for clients such as the US Navy, Marine Corps, and coast Guard. This UAS can concurrently carry various ISR sensor payloads, offering a wide range of tactical mission capabilities both on land and at sea. Its innovative design allows for easy storage, seamless passage through standard hatches, and safe launch and recovery from a ship’s deck, even in challenging sea conditions.

Statements from Team Leaders

Brandon Tseng, President and Chief Growth Officer of shield.AI, emphasized the importance of collaborating with established Canadian firms. “We value the contributions that Canadian industry partners can make to our global expansion,” he stated. “Our partnerships with Voyageur Aviation and Kongsberg Geospatial will enhance our supply chain network in Canada.”

Cory Cousineau, President of Voyageur Aviation Corp., expressed enthusiasm about joining Team V-BAT. “We are excited to leverage our robust Canadian capabilities in aircraft maintenance and support for the Canadian Forces,” he remarked. “Our extensive operational experience will ensure reliable and effective operations for the RCN.”

Jordan Freed, President of Kongsberg Geospatial, also shared his pride in joining the team.“Kongsberg Geospatial brings a wealth of experience in defense ISR systems,especially in unmanned systems control and sensor data management,” he noted. “We are committed to providing these Canadian-made capabilities to Team V-BAT, ensuring a top-tier operational capacity based on leading aircraft technology.”