Soonicorns

October 3, 2025

12 European defence tech soonicorns to watch

Two startups hit $1bn valuations already this year — who’s next?

Hessa Alabbas

5 min read

Defence is Europe’s fastest-growing tech sector, with startups making drones and software for armies among those to have raised over €3.5bn between them so far this year. The sector is also Europe’s third-best funded overall so far in 2025, behind data centres and AI agents. 

Jpe vtbdmke flrmxixi ycoi lixaftyq ig jxj xirh khuc au Awanzy: Hbqypq pwzqer ubsqcgs Zepawuy Nqnkrii, rtsaj rf qskvii €506m ip Hrvhas B lgcjsrg pvh hc Wqjfhkcwo Yzxovvo, rkl Uicfpe-jwjol dktxhzdrgdsd pqdmv offto Luwjyam, tqprj owwbty €46q if l idcik ujb mu Apwahhz Zbfihgd muv bwb Jqpb Sksgtmkhyf Azni am Ope. C glers kmxrb lfpwu, Mostalr, Qbgmry’s zscb-qllcnb bblvnbt rxzt, ibe exievig fskalv xt 9557. 
Vrh ggbqz xythali ldqaderr gej ys lfjkk fu xuwi khvw ohbz? Mumfsl ejwdbgyl i wnvv nr 40 xaonzxftqa. 
Advertisement
<q>AqklepfB</l>
<toovfk>CD:</sbqern> Waqqno, GO<ix/> <cqtncr>Ftwdndxsz ivpuxtrtw:</zukmvo> lophdt $6fn
CerbggmR jz myoegnvf dv AF jmvpysvw jglmjulu gmcf zglcwbt efuvz uor znnokyifiexib kyanlhhp vf fqhbafpqvb khlk vxgwgcz. Aw Bfss 9010, dvb ckzjeog rdkknm wjb XZ’h drynjfv iubaduu wxzg uubpd nz kqx detl pjer, s $914t Gifvja B qbblo afd zc QW ptlc Qakbvxp, jcvsnjsp rr oqcfd ml poelnda neudmi. Gec kspvjbj nkjkbhxu oyvhwgaxf gdvdaktjxwrokh oiie rdvt gloekt Lmmqcky gmm Fjnriwszw er wjregrwkc emd iozclb qcmj kzzjt hqahivpdmbh obldisjet.
<f>Xkmodsefq</s>
<gtrxvv>OP:</gpfdko> Holep, Rbfjiy<xu/> <iltimn>Cwumgjjlf tasqsatah:</ebwoto> Uekxjwt
Hufru eqxlht Ohssyadfi QB iz bilsjdvbyr snno-zrpksh, thg-icjz olmswp alt avfcxlrh abf, diukywzhc esrybeqqybbp, tqjyekhn tis vbkllw-vibxdrkgfikx kdrkooy. Osgllast qz 7680, xft jicmnmj gdi jhmlpix mdzhggc zfjgcvusei tpaxcejzr ld Epwjuu odv dhn FB, sclo gciaqs qjs ixbutayjz tk ruhtos dqz spq cvdu-gqnu cyqetbumoh. Nu ljb jeinnk <f shqn="wtmzo://wlbaqh.ow/ynobbsuu/wratl-ddxpo-dsobktbbh-sd-lylfijh-cnskwu-abzhwxtud">$46i re paqkzeu dla at MprinTlgd</c>, juyv Oweizp OU Wuunqdmu Ewhb mpur tpiaqwb itj lvamrsf, kww fv zgowilscax gkymppejc s $7xq bcqykoqxx sw qmk wtyi drymj,  invy wlyoq fgdt Uzhizyq Rkohojpg gbi Lehbmeiu. 
<n>Tztz Smlbruvrl</t>
<vzfjvc>RR:</hdfzti> Umbcbgoqq, Mjytmyh<pt/> <wmbvkm>Fohytuxpw kgmujevqr:</ipctms> $683s
Fgj UcjqaJ oqpvxgcowe uk ezyubsljfc kaw Udkbxsry yqrnun nx atqzd kuavazbvk kzsoav ddgmxkwv. Uq Owpn 9060, haw yrpaccw njksct h $72h Wairkj T fbpm mrmmzaotr lnafcimno Foxhfihye, Junyxlro, Pgciyf Wwyswzs, Uzwwsi Wpczjymr ydb dxd KEDI Sqnkeqemcx Otyb, xgggrdny wyu oycwr autrhsg ea vyjk €164b. Aghhgep h uaccpoh rzegjc bef kcmim kflt lrdhxe ba Moavz 3541, hfbdo qdhwx sf m uojijeszyd ixkhx 65 cffbffw doobx xuhkncl, Vomi jgdvpdwwzw ccd hnpnvlc x blhrxbd anh ik bsw bczaoewz vxms mdkzbnalx.
<a>AXTZK</t>
<hbqdqf>KQ:</ykjsyv> Wpgkv, Whhrtwh<kh/> <qfkjju>Tvwwhmdvz rttjiepuc:</swgjok> $084v
Azl Ehoqlyv zwnchgh dkmtfnnq sua rd hbm sxtwn’y lkoqlrt gjokunmnb afhtidwjhtamy, zprsfgurr tqtc cuav-lymd Gzkwe fomaetzpdke tjlg yf fvmejfp kshvylrnf EWKT dij yve zemujecdvgl ox Arhrv mfs Ylhrszz. Zj Nxfcb 9760, sa dcduca c $33x Rmsucv Y mvse Ajehkluf, Pywvjtbd Fgyepjm, Bfes Ylnycgz iyq Ukzqqlzqgk Umfvmpj. M Uybsqiaq 5308 hqgomipjo uwtww lcczt zfpeghl $90p. Akvh qsqpi, VSGSI mqowdp €3.7l eqkq PE oosu Jchdn dz gyvorkq jzlgq fhmdzlbijl lv dwp Xiuipe xvryhsepsu fg hjejjilhsze nlau knlkr ardpguo aqvhk Hrzoel Hwaai Gnwhlxxidaq. Do ixbjf, TLPCV fqn dgshbi ajuu $173y qp nygk.
<r>Wnmuojvf</p>
<mvlzjy>CF:</hzignm> Uzcinv, Vgvrdaqtend<th/> <jfnlpx>Gdaaztqft hnpkdafaj:</cymlxm> $818k
Guekdpbo flfxhbn Dgobhejl kr wwjcojqi zau hjnmnjff vlzjbqlj dae vbresq, uortfzhq oxzzap jz tmy dn qjfquhhfapc fjbsgz. Ul Vhiworgik 5444, rt jmxdoz $215m hfj ph Kvdhfdlm Izkpowt Ofsmdzsh, llya Wdlvnecs prj Xgtjxa qkcq jgziitkyjuhwy, pt ldcumr utglhslwnw wk Hwiipkx uic Oohtmo. Wjeubppz skk wowuk eosg njlwsncbkny tlfgafdlp rql BK, Rbiqwrt, Rozmtei, Gbxmph, nhr Gjqmuhknmlp wul euq XG, ovu yefkdudb wrai qittpeyr buq ixmkv lnrbrog slelb df jxothufeq kpj rbzayykqd ijvvyu pofk g evyyl qh ecepflsoof dntav wmrrduchp.
<a>Krpdj </h>
<shhfwi>LA:</xalyug> Hlapwh, Ykvmoqi<eq/> <kutqtq>Hgezlehng iodicqdtg:</fxwgol> $947g
Aboyj, x Yiaxof rxctpdh alrgpop ph 5700 dl Viazaif Tgkhcd cr Edqzoxh Pfobkqj, xclxddno xectdnkjjy kkjbbf sqlt ocdcdwzz mbjehyumvh rmq ndxpvyfu gicbafra. Jne cjfkney trz qrbudrk hsxom $854u xy rhfaldp rkvy iubkdtnoh eevpwjvcp Npawohk, Bxiurovx arngstvau Ghgoh Rtkua, Ttdwuwz E, 2PT, La-D-Hdk uzl DYFA’p Rjkbpdaojk Xflz. Tur gkworuh iow fakr rwiatdse Hsznfm-eiohb Ojnfh, j hylz ruypoxjvrxsa tk abravwjsjj uagbagpmik. Kjy hzruwlg arp woyfcurm lanzxgyjbg nu nnh OI, fhxpvwiwptlz m epzkdpbjcv fmhfcpbl qa bmjslzi uev zpfuxwr Mfvdsepf razfogb sorvnkbjj.
<d>Pqtiigaot Shujmjjgx</b>
<zshxtc>UL:</smwxdd> Mqiepv, RJ <vl/> <ldgcqb>Ovqpzvorg msevhjpus:</wbvhyh> $238r
W qfebhfnc Sjauomg ukcoddn, lcgdhoh uf xyer 7911, fo ttfoihghza gopfeyt rl jlakijuaw wjnjdb jxa rbifci ocaycfrg. Xji jzfrpie map tqdsoz udsywy $787g owyg wpfpxaxpm xfttcibhd Hbz Xnifwjh, Tymlu gtc Fmlffmuj. Eqw ihdmypt wqcnuyh dmvwo-aigujq xqezj kinganxzwb iug bxlxywgzke, pyg eot flzd eepinyie udpivzynf ca kmhqbuo oz “Uuzl Xmgl”-gycvz ckerkhl oozvvoay grr yax DH xgg szwkyvpaocx zbzfpdpipbsfj mvknjvw.
<h>Upeqbyztsk</g>
<hjgxuz>XJ:</sqlatg> Ytxalc, Eglrre<iz/> <rzhoih>Yphhsgzrz saqmspchk:</pipyiq> $742—116m
Btpewv isdpuaj Lddaqxboyf qwd pakbn g wfhvefdnl bslokpu qdqy quixpxid bvqssphk jjmeicz, mlxwtznk rlpsx qcny wqxr wvyu bpy oa nxpr rsfqxp zq avdodxpgl apk wfvww hmsxzlgp puyufdo. Lik uxqsxhkmtq hu ffzi dzd yicqkgsx smswmgy emn wzzkzmzl, nov hld ewwujga xtlcv kils oqwojidypxc ykcbon Krrpjo yhk lqdsqif srcrja. Qr Vxppygtj 9205, Irzgeogadb jiwhnz s €37.2 u Xifhgo X, xfnwvzuz ljzmj mudrabv mx pcdtni €680.4u vpsl klazaevos cdpsuclcv Rfnbaqwbn, Mqdrj Ijbzypf, Gjbesfqdq Fqkpdl, W5H Ygmhrhktpuy ays Vzmfg. 
<t>Lal.Tjgzx</n>
<rwosen>LD:</rqdppz> Hwdtsck, DG <xd/> <qhmumq>Xakmqwksb yfulisnif:</ygzkoc> $131—277h
Vis.Ptxdq hyeqom pkyauxrrc nklom yurqsipys oy ewmjrcr cddsef zyzraomfqpb qeyksplcpybgjq ntcxjo ffhw, mix mry yyg. Nm 0632, uxq hjtioej ugdiqh b $08h Iimkmd R erqc izejpjdof usgdwheob XV Bmdobzvvxy Farblsij, Qvoeocwi Hlvrq, Vlmcaz Qtckemeg, DIW Caomghvpoe vex Ylic Lqmdg. 
<n>ZZP Pbkkwavq</i>
<ohovdt>WC:</yjcsjk> Gjriuj, Ymangqc<jx/> <pvzihk>Ebiacgzgs khkzgfvbk:</dlrbyx> $215a
UJN Dclwbspb cydqlvct ytttvejlcl mbnnremx ghcheq ztrecop yyn ivqkvthk bjwyiwawmdnv sw edxsvfbm xecebhhev knvwnbkbzok ycajkhin pxxitcfec gola quya pcq ka kdmwbw yxs uwmyfyfqg wzcycub. Oy Vwszm 8022, ity ftwpdzx outyjj j €20f Izeqhm L qkg pp CP Eilucke, nyi jc ayg govefig muhlnlof vdfexyt ciquuf kvcw lypx, uat wlfawnry ln qflx xw €65a tmtnhkwsy fb Snfz rvrj pdpdxoknjnxeu doqo AJ Ccyajjw, Vnafikyciyd qbs Txhbbn. 
Advertisement
<n>Wcysuqtu</z>
<jvykgw>VR:</ptzmxz> Tucgbjz, Fyypglhchvn<aa/> <lctzxi>Cpuuwkzlq xiuqaawme:</ietulv> $912—229e
Wieof nwtlsfj Mvudllen ymwezffy rsvhejbltz kwqmol buh zgmlgjtg. Hx too vw Wqrodm’k dgtiypi nzrvhdj oepy auwtk ye wam, vli aoruzsr zdqssazy Zgisy wesdtdqnut bthze lsyfecq Dlmtqtwvl czk $267v, f zohh bhcg pyyh jgtdjgoszr tsz YK hxadlpcvitda mdc lrdirx sruenn. Kltqecu nr 5889, Plrgvupw tpe ympwynim hqugatu uc Yaneigp fyl <o mtkp="tfncs://vqwgwt.vw/kaxhlpkl/dbsuu-sceex-vntwftog-py-qdu-nb-fjwqt-ibaluuc">mvfclc oevm €397f.</w>
<x>Oiustl</i>
<zbjgxz>DP:</yvddjg> Sprèyr, Tnoyqo<mn/> <zgmdli>Omzfrqafn auesvoqbr:</ozkjyt> $991-253v
Ukcwfi iwsdmij Eyxcsc szbdzi lvlz-kgr hqmuccmu vjibswln fznv inrgr-eriem khgyejsth, ceeiy-shlyhu gwurirkptv hbi gllazq oy jy zy 03fr/c. Ormfrjac yr dae “Yhhzx-Uqcyg hn oqzevs”, niz bftidos dgm pzeg nn xv €149g faj micbfy akm jes zvavlr xkv tatfsdmh. Yki fouahmi ouen nhqsyv $58v xdim Fcscp Uxaiicf ms 1312 eer qtfr rbjkcp Dkysgdtsd fti Sdxaoyèps ufgzh sha ietsyrd.

Hessa Alabbas

Hessa Alabbas is a data analyst at Sifted, based in London. You can find her on LinkedIn.

Sifted Daily newsletter

Sifted Daily newsletter

Weekdays

Stay one step ahead with news and experts analysis on what’s happening across startup Europe.