Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI, a US defense technology company, hosted the first public media briefing in Taipei on the 2nd. (Photo by reporter Tian Yuhua)
[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Taipei Report] Shield AI, a new American defense company, has been actively expanding into the Asian market in recent years, and has also cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and manufacturers in Taiwan. Shield AI held a media tea meeting today (2nd). Co-founder and President Brandon Tseng pointed out that although Ukraine’s geographical environment is different from Taiwan, there are similarities. Among them, the V-BAT drone has also been verified and equipped with radar. It can still be used around the Taiwan Strait in cloudy conditions.
Shield AI will set up an office in Taipei 101 Building in 2025 and work with Taiwanese industry partners to actively promote the localization of autonomous systems. Currently, Shield AI is cooperating with AIDC through software to use V-BAT to support the implementation of the Coast Guard's ship-borne drone project. The two parties have also signed a cooperation agreement to jointly provide V-BAT support, logistics, maintenance and training in Taiwan, and are committed to expanding Hivemind's autonomous system into Taiwan's drone ecosystem.
Zeng Guoguang said that V-BAT is a reconnaissance drone, and the cost it requires is very different from traditional reconnaissance methods. He hopes that V-BAT can be purchased on a larger scale in Taiwan. Currently, it is working closely with the Coast Guard and hopes to cooperate with the Taiwan Navy or other military services in the future.
Regarding the 116 annual budget document of the Ministry of National Defense, it is shown that the Navy will purchase "vertical take-off and landing drones" next year, which are regarded as V-BAT by the outside world. What are the relevant details? And will it be affected by the budget blockage of the Legislative Yuan? Zeng Guoguang responded that he could not respond to too many details with the Navy, but he knew that they wanted to buy vertical take-off and landing drones, and Shield AI would also bid. We believe that they have the best products and services. We also believe that in combat, especially the third category of drones, they are the best and most mature, especially in communication-blocked environments. They can still perform tasks autonomously and cooperate with multiple aircraft.
As for the Ukrainian battlefield, it is often discussed with Taiwan. However, the battlefield environments of the two sides are different. How can drones be used to achieve a deterrent effect in the Taiwan Strait? Zeng Guoguang responded that although the geographical environment of Ukraine is different from that of Taiwan, it is relatively similar. Shield AI has also worked closely with the Ukrainian Navy and is very familiar with the maritime environment. Although Taiwan has a different climate and there are more clouds in winter, a radar sensor is necessary to see something through the clouds and fog. This part of the V-BAT is equipped with radar, so there is no need to worry. I believe it can be used in the waters around Taiwan.
Shield AI stated that the Hivemind autonomous system has been integrated into more than 40 unmanned systems and can autonomously perform tasks and collaborate with multiple machines in environments where GPS and communications are blocked. V-BAT drones are performing intelligence, surveillance, and target-locking missions with special operations forces in Ukraine's electronic warfare environment. They have facilitated more than 21 strike operations, successfully executing and completing tasks in jammed environments. In addition, V-BAT has assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in tracking and intercepting people and drugs since the beginning of the year, and has so far seized more than $1 billion in drugs.
