Summary:
Swarmer, a Ukrainian AI drone startup, raised $15 million in a record defense investment.
The software allows a single operator to control multiple drones with minimal human input.
Funding will scale operations to provide swarming capabilities to Ukraine and NATO allies.
Investment includes U.S. firms like Broadband Capital Investments and R-G.AI.
Part of Ukraine's Brave1 cluster, proven in tens of thousands of combat missions.
Ukrainian Startup Swarmer Secures Major Defense Investment
Ukrainian startup Swarmer, which specializes in developing artificial intelligence for managing swarms of drones, has successfully raised $15 million in funding. This announcement was made on September 16, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the defense sector.
This investment is the largest single funding round for a Ukrainian defense company since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Swarmer's innovative software enables a single operator to coordinate multiple drones, reducing human involvement to merely selecting targets and authorizing strikes.
Illustrative purposes only: A Ukrainian drone operator near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine on July 16, 2023. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Swarmer CEO Serhii Kupriienko stated, "This funding enables us to scale our operations and offer advanced swarming capabilities to every unmanned vehicle, in Ukraine and across NATO-aligned nations. Our software has proven itself in live combat across tens of thousands of missions."
The funding round was led by several U.S. firms, including Broadband Capital Investments, R-G.AI, D3 Ventures, Green Flag Ventures, Radius Capital, and Network VC.
The process of launching a swarm of drones is shown in footage published on Sept. 16, 2025. (Mykhailo Fedorov)
Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized that Ukrainian innovations "have become game changers on the battlefield and have forever changed the perception of modern technological warfare." Swarmer is part of Ukraine's Brave1 defense innovation cluster, which focuses on developing cutting-edge warfare technology.
This development follows recent advancements in Ukraine's drone program, including the testing of new kamikaze drones designed to resist Russian electronic warfare. Ukraine has rapidly expanded its drone production capabilities, with President Volodymyr Zelensky noting the potential to produce up to 8 million drones annually, though funding remains a challenge.
In response, Russia has also been enhancing its drone capabilities, with President Vladimir Putin announcing plans to establish a separate branch of the Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems.
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