Backswing Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on defense and national security technologies, has announced an investment in Vigilant Works, a Ukrainian company developing autonomous counter-drone systems, high-speed interceptors, and radar-based detection technologies. The investment will support the company’s expansion of its autonomous guidance systems, next-generation radar capabilities, and manufacturing operations as it prepares to scale across Ukraine and NATO-allied markets.
Vigilant Works is developing an integrated counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) platform designed to detect, track, and intercept increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.
The company’s technology combines interceptor aircraft, proprietary autonomy software, and radar-based detection capabilities into a coordinated air defense system.
Its development efforts are informed by battlefield testing in Ukraine, where drone threats have created substantial demand for technologies capable of responding to rapidly evolving aerial operations.
The investment reflects growing interest in autonomous defense systems that can address increasingly complex threats while reducing reliance on manually operated interception capabilities.
Developing High-Speed Autonomous Drone Interceptors
Vigilant Works has developed the Algiz family of interceptor platforms, designed to counter unmanned aerial systems.
Its first-generation Algiz-1 system has undergone battlefield testing, providing operational experience that the company is using to improve subsequent designs.
The company is now advancing Algiz-2, a next-generation interceptor capable of reaching speeds exceeding 600 kilometers per hour.
The new platform is designed to address aerial threats that require rapid detection, tracking, and interception.
Vigilant Works has recently begun active battlefield testing of Algiz-2.
The company is using these evaluations to assess the technology under operational conditions and gather information that can inform further development.
The Algiz platform forms part of a broader strategy to integrate autonomous guidance technology directly with high-speed interceptor hardware.
Rather than developing individual components independently, Vigilant Works is designing its systems to operate as a connected defense architecture.
This approach combines information from radar systems with autonomous decision-making software and interceptor platforms.
The company believes integrating these capabilities can improve the effectiveness of its counter-UAS technology as aerial threats become more sophisticated.
Combining Radar, Autonomy, And Interception
A central component of Vigilant Works’ strategy is developing the technologies required for autonomous aerial threat detection and interception.
Counter-UAS operations involve multiple connected functions, including identifying a potential threat, tracking its movement, determining an appropriate response, and deploying an interceptor.
Vigilant Works is developing proprietary autonomy software intended to coordinate these activities.
The company is also building radar-based detection capabilities to support its integrated platform.
Its objective is to create a system in which detection, guidance, and interception technologies work together rather than operating as separate products.
The company believes this integrated design can support the development of more capable autonomous defense systems.
Vigilant Works is using operational experience gathered in Ukraine to refine its technology.
Its engineering teams work with experienced interceptor pilots to understand performance requirements and identify areas where autonomous systems could improve.
The company intends to incorporate information from these activities into its software development and future interceptor designs.
This process allows it to evaluate new capabilities against real operational requirements while continuing to improve its systems.
Expanding Beyond Ukraine Into NATO-Allied Markets
Vigilant Works has secured its first commercial agreements outside Ukraine, marking an important milestone in its international expansion.
The company is preparing to scale manufacturing and operations across NATO-allied countries.
Its plans include expanding production capacity while continuing development of its autonomy and radar technologies in Ukraine.
The investment from Backswing Ventures will provide additional resources for these initiatives.
Vigilant Works is also a member of Brave1, Ukraine’s defense technology coordination platform.
The company was previously selected for the Brave1 and Ministry of Defence EU4UA program.
These relationships reflect its participation in Ukraine’s expanding defense technology ecosystem.
The company believes its experience developing technology under active operational conditions provides insights into the requirements of modern counter-drone defense.
Its international expansion strategy is intended to make these capabilities available to additional defense customers across allied markets.
Backswing Ventures Supports Defense Technology Development
Backswing Ventures invests in early-stage companies developing technologies for defense, security, and national resilience.
The firm focuses on businesses addressing critical challenges involving military capabilities and emerging threats.
Its investment in Vigilant Works reflects the increasing importance of autonomous systems in modern defense operations.
Unmanned aerial systems are being deployed across a growing range of military applications, creating demand for technologies that can identify and counter them.
These developments have increased interest in combining radar, autonomous software, and high-speed interceptor platforms.
Backswing Ventures Managing Partner Kyle Asman highlighted the advantages of developing defense technology in environments where capabilities can be evaluated against real operational requirements.
The firm believes Vigilant Works’ integrated approach positions it to address growing demand for counter-UAS technology.
Vigilant Works intends to use the investment to advance its next-generation systems while expanding production and commercial operations.
With Algiz-2 entering active battlefield testing and its first international commercial agreements secured, Vigilant Works is pursuing a broader market for its autonomous air defense technology.
The company’s strategy centers on integrating high-speed interception, radar detection, and proprietary autonomy into a scalable platform for countering evolving aerial threats.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are excited to support Vigilant Works as they continue developing and scaling their autonomous defense capabilities. The evolution of aerial threats is creating an increasingly urgent need for effective counter-UAS solutions. Vigilant Works has the benefit of developing its technology in an environment where these capabilities are being tested against real operational requirements. We believe the team’s focus on autonomous interception, radar, and high-speed threats addresses an important and growing need across the defense ecosystem.”
Kyle Asman, Managing Partner At Backswing Ventures
“We believe the next leap in counter-UAS will come from rethinking the entire interception chain, much like rocketry did decades ago. Detection, radar, autonomy, and high-speed interception cannot be developed in isolation. We’re building them as one integrated system, designed from the ground up to push the boundaries of autonomous air defense.”
Daniel Korogodski, CEO And Co-Founder Of Vigilant Works
“Building both the autonomy software and the interceptor platform gives us a unique advantage. We learn directly from Ukraine’s best interceptor pilots, turn real-world operational experience into data, and iterate at a pace few can match. We’re not just automating today’s best pilots, we’re building autonomy to outperform them.”
Bohdan Boryslavski, CTO And Co-Founder Of Vigilant Works
