The previous statement is that JSW Defense Pvt. Ltd has announced a strategic partnership with the U.S.-based Shield AI Inc., marking a major advancement in India’s defense manufacturing capabilities. It is working on the indigenization and local production of Shield AI’s V-BAT unmanned aerial systems UAS. This will further increase India’s self-reliance on defense technologies.
This new partnership is perfectly aligned with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision to form a robust defense ecosystem within the country.
Key Investment and Strategic Focus
JSW has planned an investment worth $90 million in two years, out of which $65 million will be utilized in the first year. In this investment, V-BAT will see a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, licensing of technology, and compliance programs. This will also provide training programs for skilled professionals to enable easier deployment and maintenance of V-BAT technology- a giant leap for India’s defense manufacturing sector.
This partnership will bring mission-critical technologies to the Indian Armed Forces,” said COO and President Parth Jindal of JSW Group. The large supply of V-BAT systems includes operator training along with end-to-end MRO services to support long-term deployment.
Advancing Self-Reliance in Defense
The joint venture will be the biggest leap toward achieving the goal of defense self-reliance in India. The place-based manufacturing of the V-BAT, a versatile UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition, is all set to be part of the state-of-the-art technology flown over diverse terrains by the Indian Armed Forces.
As Managing Director for India of Shield AI, Sarjan Shah reflected on the strategic value of the deal, which advances both U.S. and Indian government interests in deepening defense cooperation. “This partnership marks a transformative milestone for India’s military unmanned systems capabilities,” he observed. “It is one part of an ongoing commitment to buttress India’s defense industry.”
A New Era for India’s Defense Manufacturing
The JSW-Shield AI partnership is currently working to create a sustainable, locally managed ecosystem for UAS production and maintenance. In this context, collaboration shall bloom in creating an advanced technological workforce to serve the emerging needs of India’s defense.
This association of manufacturing skills at JSW with the advanced technology of Shield AI will be a bold step for India’s defense sector. It will not only add enhanced capabilities to the defense of India but also encourage innovation and the building of new skills for future collaboration in this sector.
