Erik Prince backs Ukrainian drone tech push toward US military sales
erik prince is backing a Ukrainian drone technology firm he wants to help sell to the U. S. military, a move that spotlights Ukraine’s accelerating defense innovation in wartime. At 8: 00 AM ET on March 18, details emerging from New York placed the focus on Swarmer, a Ukraine-based drone software company targeting U. S. and European buyers. The push comes as low-cost drones, electronic warfare tools, and advanced software increasingly shape battlefield outcomes against far more expensive legacy systems.
What happened: board role, US sales ambition, and a wartime “battle laboratory”
Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm Blackwater, said he joined the board of Ukrainian drone software firm Swarmer last year and is backing the company as it seeks to expand into Western markets, including the U. S. military. In remarks tied to the development, Erik Prince described Ukraine as “the leading battle laboratory in the world, ” arguing that years of war with Russia enabled Ukrainian defense companies to rapidly develop low-cost drones, software, and electronic warfare tools.
He also said U. S. defense companies have struggled to compete because of higher manufacturing costs and limited battlefield experience. “There’s a lot of phenomenal defence tech in Ukraine that needs to come to the West quickly, properly and at scale, ” Erik Prince said.
Swarmer’s IPO week: surging shares, big claims, and no US contract yet
Swarmer raised $15 million in a Nasdaq public offering this week, and its shares have surged about 500% during the same period. The company, founded in 2023, develops software designed to allow Ukrainian soldiers to control drone swarms. Alex Fink, identified as the company’s U. S. chief executive, said the software is capable of controlling nearly 700 drones, though that capability has not yet been demonstrated.
Despite battlefield use, the company remains unprofitable and has no U. S. military contracts. Swarmer generated just over $300, 000 in revenue in 2025, down slightly from 2024, while losses widened to more than $8 million. In a regulatory filing, it expects to generate $33 million in revenue over the next two years.
Immediate reactions: Erik Prince and the investment circle around the company
Erik Prince framed the moment as an urgent transfer of battlefield-tested tools into Western procurement pipelines, emphasizing speed and scale. Separately, Eric Schmidt, identified as former Google chief executive, was described as an early backer of Swarmer, adding a prominent U. S. tech name to the company’s supporters.
The developments arrive as investors show heightened interest in Ukraine-based military technology firms seeking Western customers, with Swarmer positioned among a growing cohort attempting to convert wartime experience into exportable products.
Quick context: low-cost tech reshaping modern conflict
The war in Ukraine and recent conflict in the Middle East have underscored the outsized impact of low-cost technologies—drones, autonomous boats, jamming equipment, and advanced software—against far costlier systems like fighter jets and missiles made by long-established prime contractors.
What’s next: scrutiny on proof, procurement, and whether erik prince’s bet travels west
In the near term, attention will center on whether Swarmer can demonstrate the capabilities described by its leadership and translate market momentum into signed customers—especially within the U. S. military, where it currently holds no contracts. Investors and defense officials will also be watching whether Ukraine-based defense tech firms can scale manufacturing and compliance for Western demand. For now, erik prince has put his weight behind the pitch that Ukraine’s battlefield-driven innovation is ready for Western buyers—if it can move quickly, properly, and at scale.
