Drone crashes and severed fingers at a $13 billion Silicon Valley military startup
The company said the injury stemmed from a safety procedure violation as Reuters reported more than 50 V-BAT crashes in 18 months.
- On May 12, a Romanian Navy official's hand was caught in a V-BAT propeller during a training exercise off the Texas coast, severing two fingers and fracturing a third. Shield AI attributed the incident to a "violation of established safety procedures."
- Reuters reported the V-BAT has crashed more than 50 times over the past 18 months, yet Shield AI stated its customers experienced only 10 "operational mishaps" since 2025, highlighting a significant discrepancy in reported safety performance.
- Whistleblower Miller alleged Shield AI obscured technical flaws from military clients, including telling the Greek military a V-BAT was flying "autonomously" when it was manually piloted. The company reportedly dismissed at least three employees who raised safety concerns.
- Shield AI, valued at $12.7 billion in a March funding round, recently secured a Pentagon contract for its new X-BAT drone, marketed as a "loyal wingman" expected to cost about $30 million. The deal signals continued Pentagon confidence despite safety scrutiny.
- The injured official remained at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as of May 25, while Romania's Naval Forces confirmed their $30 million agreement for the V-BAT remains in effect despite the incident. The contract continuity reflects sustained international confidence in the platform.
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Shield AI Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Drone Safety After New Injury and Series of Reported Crashes
One of Silicon Valley's most highly valued defense technology companies is facing renewed scrutiny after a serious training accident involving its flagship military drone added ... The post Shield AI Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Drone Safety After New Injury and Series of Reported Crashes first appeared on [your]NEWS.
A representative of the Romanian Naval Forces was injured by the propeller of a V-BAT drone on May 12, during a training exercise organized by Shield AI aboard a boat off the coast of Texas.
A woman from the Romanian Naval Forces was seriously injured during a training exercise with a V-BAT drone, produced by the American company Shield AI.
A woman from the Romanian Naval Forces was seriously injured during a training exercise with a V-BAT drone, produced by the American company Shield AI. The incident took place on May 12th, on a boat...
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