Ukraine signs memorandum to boost air defense
Photo: Swift Beat CEO Eric Schmidt, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (president.gov.ua)
Ukraine and the American company Swift Beat have signed a memorandum to expand drone production. As part of the agreement, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive drones designed to intercept and destroy missiles, according to the press service of the Office of the President and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
According to the Presidential Office, the memorandum was signed by Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Swift Beat CEO Eric Schmidt in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Denmark.
"The document provides for expanding the company’s production capacity, with modern drones to be supplied to Ukraine on a priority basis, under special terms and at cost price," the Presidential Office noted.
Thanks to this cooperation, drone deliveries to Ukraine will increase significantly. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of drones this year, with further scale-up planned for 2026.
"The company will produce interceptor drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to destroy Russian UAVs and missiles, quadcopters for reconnaissance, surveillance, fire adjustment, and logistics, as well as medium-class strike drones for engaging enemy targets," the Presidential Office emphasized.
The cooperation also includes plans to develop innovative solutions, such as interceptors for cruise and ballistic missiles, automated turrets, and advanced reconnaissance platforms.
Details from Umerov
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov explained that the memorandum with Swift Beat includes:
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A long-term partnership and priority drone deliveries for Ukraine
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Large-scale production of interceptor drones, quadcopters, and strike systems
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Development of new technologies to counter cruise and ballistic missiles
According to Umerov, Ukraine will receive a significant number of Shahed interceptor drones, which have already proven effective.
"The mass use of drones has become one of the defining features of this war. To effectively protect our people, cities, and critical infrastructure, Ukraine is building up its own “drone arsenals” by leveraging the potential of the world’s leading manufacturers," Umerove noted.
He noted that Ukraine is working to ensure that every unit is equipped with modern tools for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike capabilities.
Swift Beat
Swift Beat is an American company that has already established a strong presence in Ukraine.
The company develops autonomous drones with artificial intelligence components and closely collaborates with Ukrainian military forces and engineers. Swift Beat tests its technologies directly on Ukrainian territory.
Notably, Umerov previously stated that Ukraine’s defense industry is capable of producing around 10 million drones annually. However, adequate funding is essential to achieve that scale.
