The Portuguese company Swatter is using its Swatter Portable Gun (SPG)—a device that neutralizes drones through targeted radio emissions—to protect Ukrainian skies and critical infrastructure. Founded in 2021 by Renato Branco, João Gaspar, and others, the startup is preparing a funding round of 1.2 million euros to boost growth and international expansion.
Swatter's technology is already integrated with the Portuguese Army and Navy and has been tested in exercises like ARTeX, REPMUS, and NATO's DYNAMIC MESSENGER. The company is entering the US market through the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program and exploring partnerships in Brazil. The production capacity is set at 200 systems by the end of the year, with all systems designed and assembled in Portugal.
The startup highlights a broader trend in the industry: drones have become central in modern conflicts, making anti-drone systems and electronic warfare essential. Swatter emphasizes the need for a strong domestic ecosystem, connecting universities, research centers, startups, and the Armed Forces to scale internationally.
With the new funding round, Swatter aims to expand operations abroad while consolidating its position in Europe, leveraging the growing drone defense market, projected to mobilize 400 million euros according to recent proposals from the European Commission.
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