U.S. Marines test V-BAT operations on USS Portland amphibious ship

United States Marines and Department of War contractors conducted flight operations with a V-BAT unmanned aerial system aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) in the Pacific Ocean on Jan. 28, 2026, as part of ongoing integrated training with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

During the event, a V-BAT unmanned aerial system successfully landed on the flight deck of the San Antonio-class ship while the unit was underway with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. The activity took place at sea and formed part of a broader training effort focused on integrating new systems into expeditionary maritime operations.

According to the Marine Corps, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is currently deployed aboard the amphibious ready group to conduct training that supports warfighting readiness and operational integration. The V-BAT flight demonstrated the ability to operate unmanned systems from amphibious platforms without the need for catapults or arresting gear.

Contractors supporting the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and I Marine Expeditionary Force were also observed disassembling the V-BAT system aboard USS Portland following flight operations. The activity highlighted the system’s deployability and the ability of mixed military–contractor teams to handle launch, recovery, and maintenance tasks in a shipboard environment.

The V-BAT, developed by Shield AI, is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system designed for operations from confined spaces, including ship decks and austere land sites. Its tail-sitting configuration allows it to take off and land vertically while transitioning to forward flight for extended-range missions. The system is typically used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and can support maritime domain awareness for naval and expeditionary forces.

Operating unmanned aircraft from amphibious ships is an increasing focus for the Marine Corps as it adapts to distributed maritime operations and expeditionary advanced base concepts. These platforms allow Marine units to deploy sensors and surveillance assets without relying on large airfields or fixed infrastructure, particularly in the Pacific theater.

USS Portland is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship designed to support Marine expeditionary operations, including the movement of troops, vehicles, and aviation assets. The ship is equipped with a flight deck and well deck that allow it to support helicopters, tiltrotor aircraft, landing craft, and now unmanned systems during deployments.