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Ex-Google CEO’s Covert Drone Company to Supply Ukraine With AI Weapons

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Ivan Khomenko
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Ex-Google CEO’s Covert Drone Company to Supply Ukraine With AI Weapons
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares a GOR reconnaissance drone for a mission near the Dnipro River in Kherson region. March 14, 2025. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has signed a memorandum of long-term strategic cooperation with the US-based Swift Beat, LLC for the production of drones.

While the agreement may appear routine, a closer look reveals a network of undisclosed connections, artificial intelligence development, and ties to a former Google executive.

The agreement was formalized in Denmark in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Swift Beat CEO Eric Schmidt as signatories.

It envisions scaled-up production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with Ukraine to receive priority access to the drones at cost.

According to the Ukrainian government, Swift Beat is expected to manufacture hundreds of thousands of drones this year alone, with that number set to increase in 2026.

The company reportedly specializes in AI-integrated UAVs and already has a substantial presence in Ukraine.

Corporate origins and hidden structures

Swift Beat is owned by Volya Robotics OÜ, a company registered in Tallinn, Estonia, whose sole beneficiary is Eric Schmidt.

Interestingly, Swift Beat was at one point rebranded as White Stork—a name that appeared in public reports in 2024 in connection with the development of low-cost, AI-enabled drones for Ukraine.

Though Swift Beat itself had not previously appeared in the public domain, White Stork was linked to ongoing UAV development efforts.

Schmidt, who has personally visited Ukrainian production sites and test ranges, is associated with a network of companies that appear to be structured to limit public visibility.

Leadership and background

Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Swift Beat, is best known for his role as Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2011. He also served as Chairman of the Department of Defense Innovation Board between 2016 and 2020, and later as a member of the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Schmidt has publicly supported the use of drones as low-cost, high-impact weapons. He has also funded the Ukrainian startup accelerator D3 and held meetings with officials from Ukraine’s government.

Drone types and future plans

According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Swift Beat is expected to focus on producing interceptors, reconnaissance quadcopters, and mid-range strike drones. These systems may incorporate artificial intelligence for navigation, targeting, and operational decision support.

Future plans include the development of UAVs capable of intercepting cruise and ballistic missiles, automated turrets, and advanced surveillance platforms.

It remains unclear whether manufacturing facilities will be located in Denmark—where the agreement was signed—or in Estonia, where the parent company is registered.

For now, little public information is available about the company’s current product line or production status. However, the scale of the planned collaboration suggests that Swift Beat will play a significant role in Ukraine’s drone capabilities in the near future.

Earlier, Belgium and Turkey officially joined the international drone coalition, bringing the total number of member states to 20. Coordinated by the UK and Latvia, the coalition has committed nearly $3 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2025, including $194 million for joint drone procurement.

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