Blackwater founder Erik Prince has joined the drone-warfare fray in Ukraine, SEC filings reveal

February 22, 2026

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.

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