Greece is constructing a permanent base for V-BAT reconnaissance drones at the Maritsa military airfield on the island of Rhodes, assigning the facility to the 472nd Information Systems Battalion. Built to transition the aircraft away from temporary and improvised operating sites, the installation will provide launch capabilities as well as comprehensive technical support.
According to the Hellenic Defence publication, the facility will hold immense operational significance by enabling round-the-clock surveillance over the southeastern Aegean Sea.
The V-BAT platforms are designed to operate as flying eyes for air defense systems, specifically the Patriot missile batteries, by covering low-altitude radar blind spots and detecting hostile drones, helicopters, or cruise missiles using onboard payloads. Real-time target data including coordinates, speed, and heading will be transmitted to the EKEPIX national operations center and air defense systems via the Link 16 communication network. Manufactured by Shield AI, the V-BAT offers an endurance exceeding 12 hours and a payload capacity of 18 kilograms.
