In a surprising turn of events, billionaire technologist Eric Schmidt has been revealed to be the mastermind behind a secretive drone startup called White Stork. The project, which has been operating under the radar in the United States and Ukraine, is focused on developing a mass-producible drone that utilizes artificial intelligence for visual targeting and can function in GPS jamming environments.

According to Forbes, White Stork, named after Ukraine's national bird and sacred totem, was formally established in August of last year. Schmidt, who has assumed the role of defense tech advisor and financier for the startup, has been actively involved in Ukraine's military technology sector. He has toured factories and testing ranges, while also reaching out to other startups in his capacity as an influential military tech investor.

White Stork's operations have so far been shrouded in secrecy, but within the drone community, its existence has become an open secret, with multiple sources confirming its activities. Business filings reveal that the startup previously operated under the name Swift Beat Holdings before changing its name to White Stork Group LLC. A holding company for Swift Beat called Volya Robotics OÜ has identified Eric Schmidt as its sole beneficial owner.

Furthermore, a website registered under the name Aurelian Industries, believed to be affiliated with the drone project, shares contact information with a Hillspire IT manager and the Schmidt Family Foundation. While the exact nature of Aurelian Industries remains unknown, it is seemingly connected to White Stork.

It is important to note that none of these entities have publicly launched as of yet. In fact, the website for Aurelian Industries currently remains empty, and the name White Stork is currently used by an unrelated U.S. charity that provides aid to Ukrainian fighters.

Schmidt's interest in drones and their potential in countering Kremlin forces has been well-documented since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In op-eds for The Wall Street Journal and Foreign Affairs, Schmidt highlighted the importance of drones, specifically "kamikaze drones," in combat situations where Russian electronic warfare capabilities pose a significant challenge.

What remains undisclosed in these op-eds, however, is Schmidt's own involvement in addressing this need through White Stork. The billionaire has been actively engaging with Ukraine's top leaders, participating in meetings alongside key figures from his drone venture, such as advisor Sebastian Thrun and former Google colleague Mark Stonich.

Although Schmidt has been involved in U.S. national security efforts for several years, his foray into the military ecosystem in Ukraine is a recent development. Last year, he invested millions of dollars in a Ukrainian startup accelerator called D3, which supports defense tech companies. Alongside Schmidt, Will Roper, founder of Istari Digital, an AI-enabled weapons simulator backed by Schmidt, also attended meetings with Ukrainian government officials last summer.

The emergence of White Stork from stealth brings to light the billionaire's ambitious efforts in the drone industry and his determination to support Ukraine's defense capabilities. As more information surfaces about this secret drone startup, the world waits to see how White Stork will shape the future of military technology.