Why an ex-Google CEO is deep in Ukraine's battlefield strategy
Elon Musk
cut
Starlink coverage
in Kherson in 2022, Ukraine's forces lost key communications mid-counter-offensive. Earlier this year, Maxar, a major satellite imagery provider, also pulled out after US President Donald Trump suspended military aid. These incidents left Ukraine scrambling for alternatives as Russia ramped up missile and drone assaults.
Into this vacuum stepped
Eric Schmidt
. The former Google boss has now taken on a direct role, not as a donor or advocate, but as a defence tech supplier.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Data Science
Management
Design Thinking
Artificial Intelligence
Data Science
Degree
Project Management
Technology
Others
CXO
Finance
PGDM
Leadership
Digital Marketing
Operations Management
Healthcare
Cybersecurity
MCA
Public Policy
MBA
Data Analytics
Product Management
others
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
10 Months
IIM Kozhikode
CERT-IIMK DABS India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
30 Weeks
IIM Kozhikode
SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
10 Months
E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
11 Months
IIT Madras
CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
Schmidt's AI drones hit their targets
Earlier this month, Schmidt met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Denmark. Together they announced a long-term co-production deal between Ukraine and
Swift Beat
, the defence tech company Schmidt now backs.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Spoiled kid took 3 subway seats while his mom ignored it, so a heroic stranger
Kingdom Of Men
Undo
According to Ekonomichna Pravda, Swift Beat has already supplied three types of drones to Ukrainian forces. The models remain unnamed for security reasons, but they include interceptor drones, medium-range strike UAVs and FPV kamikaze systems.
Officials told the outlet that these drones have taken down around 90 percent of Russian Shahed drones they encountered.
Live Events
'These drones are extremely accurate in identifying Russian drones in the night sky,' a Ukrainian military source told Ekonomichna Pravda.
They added that the drones rely on advanced AI to detect and destroy their targets, and that their secure communication systems have so far resisted Russian electronic warfare.
A representative from one Ukrainian brigade confirmed this, noting that Swift Beat's kamikaze drones 'include a proprietary communication system resistant to Russian electronic warfare'.
Ukraine shifts from dependency to partnership
Unlike earlier arrangements with Western firms, the Swift Beat deal is being described as a genuine partnership. Ukraine gains highly accurate systems for frontline defence. In return, Swift Beat gets a chance to trial and refine its technology under live conditions.
Zelensky announced in early July that the agreement would involve joint ventures between Ukrainian manufacturers and Swift Beat, with the aim of producing hundreds of thousands of drones by 2025.
'This is a co-production agreement between Ukraine and the United States. There will be several initiatives focused on various drone types. But the key element is the timeline: hundreds of thousands this year, and more next year,' Zelensky said.
He noted that interceptor drones would remain the main priority.
Praise, but also skepticism
Schmidt is not just helping from afar. He has become a regular presence in Ukraine's defence circles, meeting with then Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and other senior figures. According to one Ukrainian defence official, Schmidt 'understands well what is happening' on the ground and 'believes that AI, drones, and
autonomous systems
will shape the future of warfare'.
Still, not everyone is convinced that Schmidt's role is entirely altruistic.
'He says he's not making money on this, but we know he wants his drones battle-tested,' one industry insider told Ekonomichna Pravda.
Others are concerned that Swift Beat's rising influence could edge out local developers. Ukraine's defence sector, though grateful for international support, remains cautious about long-term dependency.
Despite these concerns, the results on the battlefield speak for themselves. Schmidt's drones have quickly become some of the most effective systems Ukraine has at its disposal.
What is Swift Beat?
Little is publicly known about Swift Beat. The firm does not disclose many technical details, but its website suggests it builds autonomous systems. These could include satellite-free navigation tools, drone-tracking software, and other automation technologies.
With Ukrainian skies now a major theatre of war, Swift Beat's AI systems are playing a central role. As drone warfare becomes the norm, this partnership may shape not only Ukraine's defence, but the future of combat itself.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: India's choices in a world of shifting alliances
Sometimes, dawn surprises us. On some mornings, when the smog lifts a little late, the sky doesn't always glow orange or pink, it burns purple, evoking an emotion that is unusual, unsettling, but undeniably striking. A purple sunrise feels unfamiliar as it is neither night nor day, neither threat nor promise, but a reminder that the world can tilt without warning. Much like this strange dawn, today's writeups capture moments of uncertainty: alliances tested, policies shifting, and futures recast in unexpected shades. Let's dive in. In Washington, a purple sun casts long shadows on India-US trade. Peter Navarro defended a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports in the Financial Times, linking it to discounted Russian oil purchases. Yet larger buyers like China and Turkiye face no such penalty, exposing selective logic in US trade policy. With India already reducing Russian imports, the imbalance remains, notes our first editorial, and the debate now is whether New Delhi should pre-emptively lower its own tariffs to turn the purple glare into long-term advantage. Closer home, the unusual light also falls on Beijing's sudden warmth. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's first visit in three years promised cooperation on fertilisers, minerals, and visas, while signalling readiness for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected trip for the SCO summit. Disengagements on the border and resumed pilgrimages suggest easing tensions, but history shows Beijing's hues can change overnight, highlights our second editorial. For India, reducing dependence while broadening regional partnerships may be the only way to guard against sudden eclipses. Meanwhile, Shyam Saran sees the same strange dawn in Europe's courtship of Donald Trump. Leaders, eager to brand him peacemaker, endorsed territorial concessions to Russia, a diplomatic win for Moscow disguised as compromise. For Russia, it was a quiet victory and for India, the lesson is clear: avoid pandering to volatile leaders, prepare for hostile tariffs that will not vanish, and guard against 'grand bargains' that may push New Delhi to the margins. Yet amid the global haze, Vinayak Chatterjee points to the glow of opportunity within. He writes that India's Rs 1 trillion Urban Challenge Fund could finally give cities the resources to become growth hubs, provided projects are designed to attract private capital and avoid the stumbles of past schemes. With urbanisation accelerating, this could be the purple glow of opportunity on the horizon. And finally, in Gunjan Singh's review of Joseph Torigian's biography of Xi Zhongxun, the father of Xi Jinping, the theme sharpens. Xi senior's life, marked by loyalty, purges, and resilience, shows how power bends people and systems alike. It is a reminder that a purple sun rises when history itself is in flux and we must learn to read the colours before they fade. Stay tuned!
Mint
44 minutes ago
- Mint
India and China cautiously mend ties as tariffs cloud economic outlook
In a visit to India this week, China's top diplomat said the two Asian nations should deepen cooperation amid international threats to free trade, a sign that President Trump's trade war could accelerate a thaw in the frosty relationship between Beijing and New Delhi. Both countries have faced hefty tariff threats from Trump over their trade policies, with India singled out in recent weeks for its large-scale purchases of Russian oil. In remarks in New Delhi on Monday at a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a veiled reference to the U.S. by noting that New Delhi and Beijing should find ways to coexist against a backdrop of 'unilateral bullying." China and India 'should view each other as partners and opportunities rather than adversaries or threats," said Wang on Monday, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry, In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said the nations are seeking to move ahead after a 'difficult period in our relationship." 'Differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict," he said. India has said it would resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals. Wang's schedule included a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. At the end of the month, Modi is expected to make his first visit to China in seven years for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security group that also includes Russia. The nuclear-armed neighbors are edging closer to resuming normal bilateral relations after facing their worst tensions in decades following the 2020 border clash that killed 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers, analysts said. Both sides in recent years have amassed tens of thousands of troops at their disputed border, while round after round of high-level military talks failed to defuse tensions. A breakthrough came last October, when the two countries hammered out a patrolling agreement at the border, paving the way for talks between Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Russia. In recent months, China has allowed Indian pilgrims to visit holy sites in Tibet, while India has said it would resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals. Analysts said the slow but steady improvement in China-India relations could gain momentum from the trade war kicked off by Trump. The countries recognize they may need to lean on other trade relationships to fend off heavy damage on their economies, analysts said. In recent weeks, Trump slapped a 25% tariff on Indian imports and has threatened to double it before the end of the month. That 50% tariff would roughly match the duties that the U.S. levies on many Chinese goods. 'Mr. Trump and his actions may have given it a greater sense of urgency than before," said Harsh Pant, head of strategic studies at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi think tank. 'The Chinese seem to be playing to this idea of 'Look, we are the more reliable partner.'" The India-China trade relationship, at close to $130 billion, is roughly the same size as U.S.-India trade. But India buys far more from China than it does from the U.S. India's growing manufacturing prowess in electronics, for example, remains heavily dependent on Chinese parts, and some in India see more economic collaboration with China as necessary to propel India's manufacturing sector. Beyond trade, Trump's actions have cast a question mark over the direction of the U.S.-India relationship, described rosily by both countries over the past decade as a robust partnership that had shed the prickliness of the past. A strong relationship was natural, political experts argued, given shared concerns over China's growing economic and military heft. India remains deeply invested in the U.S. partnership, an Indian official said, and hopes to work out trade differences. The official noted that the China-India meetings occurring this month have long been in the works. Talks between China and India over how to avoid conflict at the border continued on Tuesday with a meeting between Wang and India's national security adviser Ajit Doval. Both officials applauded the upward trajectory of China-India relations. 'Borders have been quiet, there has been peace and tranquility, our bilateral relations have been more substantial," Doval said during opening remarks. But the two countries face fundamental strategic differences that are unlikely to be resolved. Border disputes could still flare up, as both countries have built permanent infrastructure along it in recent years to prepare for a possible future conflict. India hosts the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader in exile who is seen as a separatist by Beijing for his advocacy for greater autonomy for the Tibetan region, which is controlled by China. China, meanwhile, is the strongest ally of rival Pakistan, which deployed Chinese jets in the most recent conflict against India. 'There are inherent tensions in this relationship," Pant said. 'But where the focus will be in the relationship going forward is, can they build a relationship now based on the positives?"
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Russia-Ukraine war: Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on India to apply ‘secondary pressure' on Moscow
File photo: US press secretary Karoline Leavitt (Picture credit: AP) US President Donald Trump imposed steep additional tariffs on Indian goods as part of efforts to push Russia towards ending the conflict in Ukraine, the White House said on Tuesday. Trump had doubled India's tariffs to 50 per cent by adding an extra 25 per cent duty on top of the previously announced rate, which will take effect from August 27. Addressing reporters, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, 'Look, the president has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He's taken actions, as you've seen, sanctions on India and other actions as well', adding that the intent was to apply 'secondary pressure' on Moscow. The move comes just days after Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where both leaders signalled progress towards a potential trilateral dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described the talks as 'a very successful day', while Zelenskyy called it the 'best conversation' he had held with the US president so far. Leavitt stressed that Trump was determined to speed up peace efforts. 'The president wants to move and he wants to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible,' she said, noting that European leaders and Nato chiefs who visited Washington after Trump's recent meeting with Putin also viewed the talks as a 'great first step'. She further claimed that European leaders were 'very grateful' for Trump's readout of Russia's position, saying, 'something that was not done by the previous administration at all.' On trade implications, Indian refiners have begun holding back on September-loading Russian oil tenders until there is clarity on the penalties. Executives warned that replacing Russian crude quickly would be difficult, as it makes up about 35 per cent of India's imports. 'If such a large supply disappears from the market, it will create tension and lead to price increases,' one industry official told the newspaper. Leavitt also repeated Trump's long-standing claim that the war would never have begun had he been in office, adding that Putin himself had agreed. 'True. Do you accept that as true? The European leaders do. Well, and President Putin himself said that, by the way,' she remarked when asked by a reporter. She emphasised that Trump was discussing long-term security guarantees with Nato and European partners. 'He understands the need for that … He has expended an incredible amount of time, energy and effort into bringing this war to an end, and he remains determined to do that,' she said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
