tech
Blackwater founder Erik Prince has joined the drone-warfare fray in Ukraine, SEC filings reveal
Battle-tested Ukrainian startup that advertises a ‘Killbox’ drone recruited Prince as non-executive chair
TL;DR
- Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, has been recruited as non-executive chair by Swarmer, a Ukrainian drone startup.
- Swarmer specializes in autonomous drone software and has filed for an initial public offering.
- The company claims its platform has been deployed in over 100,000 real-world missions in Ukraine since April 2024.
- Drones account for approximately 70% of combat casualties in Ukraine, highlighting their significance in modern warfare.
- Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov is actively promoting the country's weapons industry to the US and NATO allies.
- Swarmer's filing notes potential profits in drone warfare and the need for immediate investment in autonomous drone operations by defense forces, including the US Department of Defense and NATO.
- Prince has a history of involvement in drone-related activities, including a controversial drone assassination program in Haiti and his mercenaries reportedly serving as drone operators in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Ukraine has turned to drones and homegrown solutions as asymmetric equalizers against Russia, with President Zelenskyy noting 450 companies producing drones in the country.