Foundation Future Industries Plans to Deploy Humanoid Robots With U.S. Military Within 18 Months

A San Francisco-based robotics startup with ties to the Trump family is pushing to place autonomous humanoid robots on the front lines of military operations, having already conducted field tests in Ukraine and secured $24 million in U.S. government research contracts.

Foundation Future Industries, founded in 2024, is developing what it calls "dual-use" humanoid robots designed for heavy industrial environments and military applications. The company's CEO, Sankaet Pathak, is targeting deployment with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force within the next 12 to 18 months.

"I'm convinced the technology is reaching a level where it can replace jobs that are dangerous for humans to perform, and if you can do that, it's the highest net good you can create out of all applications of robotics," Pathak told CNBC.

Earlier this year, Foundation sent two of its Phantom MK-1 units to Ukraine for a pilot demonstration — what the company described as the first known deployment of humanoid robots in a combat theater. Those tests, backed by the U.S. government and conducted with Ukrainian officials, focused on logistics in hazardous areas.

The current MK-1 units carry a payload of roughly 44 pounds and lack waterproofing and sufficient battery life for large-scale deployment. Foundation plans to send an upgraded model, the Phantom 2, to Ukraine this year. Pathak said the Phantom 2 will offer double the payload capacity of its predecessor, along with what he characterized as "superhuman abilities."

The company has already received government research contracts totaling $24 million covering feasibility testing in inspection, logistics, and weapons handling. Pathak said discussions with officials have shifted from research into how to scale the robots' use across branches.

Foundation's Washington ties have drawn both attention and criticism. Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, recently joined the company as chief strategy advisor. A Foundation spokesperson said Eric Trump had been an investor before taking on the advisory role, and that the two parties share a vision of bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has alleged the firm's government contracts amount to "corruption in plain sight." The company has not publicly addressed Warren's characterization beyond the spokesperson's statement.

Pathak co-founded the company with Arjun Sethi, former CEO of Tribe Capital, and Mike LeBlanc, a co-founder of Cobalt Robotics. Pathak was previously known for leading Synapse, a fintech platform that declared bankruptcy in 2024. Foundation has also faced scrutiny over claims it suggested a close relationship with General Motors — claims GM later rejected.

The company has framed its mission in geopolitical terms, with Pathak stating the goal is to deliver "the best robots we can build" to the U.S. military — "better than anything China has."

Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia, now in its fifth year, has become a testing ground for robotics and AI in warfare, with ground robots already used for supply delivery and autonomous drones deployed for precision strikes and reconnaissance. Foundation aims to scale production to thousands of units this year, though the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine declined to comment on the tests, and the U.S. Department of Defense did not respond to an inquiry.

The company's push to scale production, close its capability gaps, and satisfy government partners will determine whether military humanoid robotics moves from demonstration to doctrine — and whether Foundation can hold its position as competitors in an increasingly crowded field pursue similar contracts.

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