Erik Prince Launches Vectus Air Defense Systems Startup

Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, has launched Vectus Air Defense Systems, a U.S.-based startup focused on protecting military bases, energy installations, and critical infrastructure from drone attacks. The company targets markets in Europe, Ukraine, and the Middle East, where threats from Russian and Iranian drones are most prevalent.

Vectus operates in partnership with Swarmer, a Ukrainian drone software firm that holds a 20% stake in the venture. The startup integrates Swarmer's software with sensors and electronic warfare tools from various vendors to create customized air-defense designs. Powerus, a drone company backed by Eric and Donald Trump Jr., is a potential participant in the Vectus ecosystem and recently secured a $22 million counterdrone contract in the Middle East.

Alex Fink, the president and CEO of Swarmer's U.S. operations, noted that militias target sites to cause financial damage or achieve symbolic victories through perception. Prince stated that the evolving nature of these threats has created a strong demand for private-sector solutions.