Billionaire and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is producing drones for the war in Ukraine, including interceptors of Russian «Shaheeds.»
Billionaire and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is producing drones for the war in Ukraine, including interceptors of Russian «Shaheeds.»
According to Economic Trut0h, Schmidt’s company produces at least three types of drones. However, the names of specific products are not disclosed for security reasons.
«It is known that these are interceptor drones, which are most often used against the Shahed, medium-range strike UAVs (Middle Strike) and kamikaze drones (FPV). All of them combine artificial intelligence and modern unmanned technologies,» the material says.
The publication noted that most of those they spoke with while preparing the article said that Eric Schmidt’s interceptor is one of the most effective in combating Russian drones.
«In particular, it demonstrates high accuracy in detecting targets in the night sky. The majority of Shaheds shot down by drones, about 90%, are attributed to these systems,» the EP emphasized.
A representative of one of the brigades also told the publication about Schmidt’s kamikaze drones, which have their own communications system that is not affected by Russian electronic warfare. According to him, these drones use AI to detect and destroy targets. He said that they have performed well in combat.
«He has a clear vision that drones, autonomous systems, and AI will become key on the battlefield and determine the outcomes of wars. His stories resemble the plots of Terminator movies,» notes an EP interlocutor among the military leadership.
As a reminder, in early July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Eric Schmidt’s Swift Beat company had signed an agreement with the Ukrainian government on the joint production of drones, in particular, long-range drones and Shahed interceptors. The agreement includes the creation of several joint companies between Ukrainian manufacturers and Swift Beat, as well as the supply of hundreds of thousands of drones this year.
In early 2024, it became known that Schmidt had moved from visionary speeches to practice. At that time, the American Forbes wrote that the billionaire had quietly founded the company White Stork, which produces drones for military needs. After the publication of the material, the company’s name was changed to Project Eagle.
To complicate the ownership structure, the project was formalized through a number of companies and related firms. One of them, Merops, was registered in 2023 by former SpaceX employee Jared Vander Lind, along with another former SpaceX engineer. According to Forbes, Merops’ official goal is «research and development in the field of aerospace engineering.» In Ukraine, it will presumably create interceptor drones.
Other entities linked to the project include Aurelian Industries, Swift Beat, and Volya Robotics, the latter registered in Estonia and created through the Hillspire investment fund, which is linked to Schmidt.
