Into this vacuum stepped Eric Schmidt. The former Google boss has now taken on a direct role, not as a donor or advocate, but as a defence tech supplier.
Schmidt’s AI drones hit their targets
Earlier this month, Schmidt met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Denmark. Together they announced a long-term co-production deal between Ukraine and Swift Beat, the defence tech company Schmidt now backs.
According to Ekonomichna Pravda, Swift Beat has already supplied three types of drones to Ukrainian forces. The models remain unnamed for security reasons, but they include interceptor drones, medium-range strike UAVs and FPV kamikaze systems.
Officials told the outlet that these drones have taken down around 90 percent of Russian Shahed drones they encountered.
“These drones are extremely accurate in identifying Russian drones in the night sky,” a Ukrainian military source told Ekonomichna Pravda.They added that the drones rely on advanced AI to detect and destroy their targets, and that their secure communication systems have so far resisted Russian electronic warfare.A representative from one Ukrainian brigade confirmed this, noting that Swift Beat’s kamikaze drones “include a proprietary communication system resistant to Russian electronic warfare”.
Ukraine shifts from dependency to partnership
Unlike earlier arrangements with Western firms, the Swift Beat deal is being described as a genuine partnership. Ukraine gains highly accurate systems for frontline defence. In return, Swift Beat gets a chance to trial and refine its technology under live conditions.
Zelensky announced in early July that the agreement would involve joint ventures between Ukrainian manufacturers and Swift Beat, with the aim of producing hundreds of thousands of drones by 2025.
“This is a co-production agreement between Ukraine and the United States. There will be several initiatives focused on various drone types. But the key element is the timeline: hundreds of thousands this year, and more next year,” Zelensky said.
He noted that interceptor drones would remain the main priority.
Praise, but also skepticism
Schmidt is not just helping from afar. He has become a regular presence in Ukraine’s defence circles, meeting with then Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and other senior figures. According to one Ukrainian defence official, Schmidt “understands well what is happening” on the ground and “believes that AI, drones, and autonomous systems will shape the future of warfare”.
Still, not everyone is convinced that Schmidt’s role is entirely altruistic.
“He says he’s not making money on this, but we know he wants his drones battle-tested,” one industry insider told Ekonomichna Pravda.
Others are concerned that Swift Beat’s rising influence could edge out local developers. Ukraine’s defence sector, though grateful for international support, remains cautious about long-term dependency.
Despite these concerns, the results on the battlefield speak for themselves. Schmidt’s drones have quickly become some of the most effective systems Ukraine has at its disposal.
What is Swift Beat?
Little is publicly known about Swift Beat. The firm does not disclose many technical details, but its website suggests it builds autonomous systems. These could include satellite-free navigation tools, drone-tracking software, and other automation technologies.
With Ukrainian skies now a major theatre of war, Swift Beat’s AI systems are playing a central role. As drone warfare becomes the norm, this partnership may shape not only Ukraine’s defence, but the future of combat itself.
