The Colombia National Navy (ARC) has begun the deployment of the Shield AI/Martin V-Bat 128 vertical take-off system (VTOL) on its FS 1500 light frigates, for the development of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
The incorporation of three systems of this model has occurred thanks to the donation made by the United States Navy to the ARC, within the framework of the cooperation that both forces maintain in defense and hemispheric security.
The announcement of this donation was made by the commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Juan Rozo, who expressed the importance of these new capabilities for the operational effort deployed by the ARC in the Caribbean Sea in its fight against criminal dynamizers who commit crimes in the country.
The V-Bat 128 is a vertical take-off and landing (Vtol) aircraft that eliminates the need for launch and recovery equipment, with the ability to perform ground and embarked operations. It has a length of 2.74 meters and a wingspan of 2.95 meters, with ten hours of autonomy and a maximum take-off weight of 56.6 kg.
This system can be configured with various payloads, such as electro-optical (EO) and MWIR (medium-wavelength infrared) cameras, AIS (Automatic Identification System), and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The aircraft can be quickly assembled and the system can be carried by a light tactical vehicle or a light helicopter the size of the UH-15.