Armenia has confirmed the purchase of US-manufactured V-BAT unmanned aerial systems through the Foreign Military Sales program, marking a tangible expansion of security ties with Washington. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the acquisition during a visit by US Vice President JD Vance, framing it as part of broader defense modernization efforts. Developed by Shield AI, the V-BAT is a vertical takeoff and landing ISR platform featuring a tail-sitter configuration that eliminates runway requirements, enabling operations in austere or constrained environments. The purchase follows three consecutive years of “Eagle Partner” joint military exercises and reflects Yerevan’s effort to strengthen interoperability and defense capability through closer engagement with the US.
