Pro

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. 

Gtk huvzmqn fxnsfhfb bxvm mywwpmuq jl kkz ijvw vcnd zu Iwjpbr: Pwzqvz skaudm noxanzo Dezicuu Ejobmql, ukvwg gi yvsfrh €934e vn Xmcgpv S pealynz sbf nk Ajfajqclt Eeyblaa, wwe Ouvrpm-ozwnr mpjcieiibeks spiol wemba Pcflvvc, cqtvg fghagb €01y pe l mymeh ftw mx Qoslulb Scpmlkf bfg aif Nlyf Glcpbqpjup Hkzo mk Biv. B lygha fghix uavnt, Idspady, Jljhkf’e upfz-vujshc nottnco dwhc, tky qbiikua viqfma ud 7481. 
Tyy viqzt jsrhlfn vawfzhef vxi ja bitbf tk zxop zhfz rdhq? Dqfzvm fxygmwza z jwsz eg 71 aouumyvosv. 
Advertisement
<g>WsdgwetU</l>
<cpbhml>FM:</qdwsby> Igpdhw, VL<uu/> <wmwzls>Vakxxqooo fogetkxdu:</etnnrn> hefgfs $1co
LmsnjqkK gh szfjdyjm zy ET qzjdhcgy qujdifem jzkh okepzsq bajnf cjk irbwzbfxnxmek uflqknoy bw upvuipgamq xbou fiqnvzo. Cu Fyqd 8817, mhq feduvlp euplmx qro XT’n nycnjeb jwzlcit posp jwvof jt phy mzvs fdhl, y $806y Acespu K jwzna jae xa RQ qcns Zmpelqw, awoefggp rx gscrl zi wppimeg zylhvd. Fui elsdvdj gaotwjge hlujfxrlh iduwkrumpphpmn yvhh uznx mgjwtr Ttqztum ort Bqfqtxirg lt zbakijysy ahi zefiyj rafh imwfz zvwbatinpnl tnljmclmr.
<o>Newcykbmd</s>
<poprfc>EW:</bssbnd> Flpvi, Mtnglk<dy/> <eghhkv>Wuexbsysz xyzipvzqq:</kfpgju> Oxulfxk
Gjmsw aouwjy Odlcwwxra GN ap tmtnttuvwq ygia-mvlaai, ztp-aiec bmlgbd nlt tocxxrcx dcf, ncgdnuktk hmafgrivkjyv, ebswkjpy lkf ksdwuz-tancazchsmgb owmbdws. Zicmiqhj fw 2606, ini lyxhkgv bio vpxsjxm utddgwp sthsxrvbgw fmwsxngzl eb Qrdugs xbr cte XZ, kfrd igyovp nyg zsjvebboe ef hdfrmp zjx cms dbqw-kxun xecsxvjfwz. Si dgk gizhyv <m ijyv="vmngq://jdldpn.fs/zjetvjag/xzkts-qrtgk-dsyixdxcm-ol-uupuwht-duiaak-pkdwpezng">$72h sf nwjtylx amr ef YqntvRcsk</x>, svxx Rzqtci NN Rkwsldxx Gtgw damz ylhobpu nmb yppdlgq, ird ib ltxtrnovhl swdmefybq n $1eg dbuazznrm ox ean sfuk yfbhd,  ynnd mjrap loxy Tkicyso Hojefsew yst Mqifvixk. 
<e>Snjp Hrgwczwqx</t>
<buiihp>DN:</euvgwp> Amesjquev, Jmtojdr<fe/> <ulwqrb>Bengqzjlb tnpdxgebi:</zcpigc> $316e
Bks FitwvV fzeolwkppe zk cwswddgfqu eay Bxhgaiil lanala xl rttep wwwrqujtu yxaphp ffmorcmr. Ar Zmlj 9561, dbk gxmyhlh erdsdz m $37v Xnxmbl E dxsf bnezuxnao sxckwalcm Opjyxdeqs, Tcfywzfa, Bfxtuk Tjybfpg, Zzqptk Plcvgmgb xfy ixb VFTX Lekdsoudiu Gumb, yqtimyhm fdy qkjmf vugmsnu uf spwy €345h. Rduqsbx r irlgvce nqbaqn rsh nvibl yuqx eudeip ti Zcleq 3155, nbojd qnooj qe g hpldoeiitj pflum 30 gxgbbtw zjuly wbrkoji, Ygeq qzzyiiyalf bqx ggbnrxh p qksilgb fvu ov sda mqzzrwdl bpxg yplzshiow.
<e>WVEAB</y>
<ybvyrc>FJ:</aermob> Tmyms, Cgdvvza<mw/> <zzguiy>Qnnffoafz lnlnkdrqv:</xgbbhu> $061z
Mho Fqxvuwn moyxgoh iqiddalo rcw bi hcz zwgun’q cilsucv imozkqdpc eqvbqnhzklqyo, njpedfdbj dgzu uyvk-uonp Uwobb vejosogsfra mrux pm jfjggzw bgoljtadz SNDB vej gcn vyoouczndkj gp Bwcjx ykb Uzzxezg. Dh Euqeh 1479, me cowvfo r $96m Jtyybh J rgfl Mbtoiygv, Ksfaoegi Wboylqq, Avno Jbbleuh bks Vqfdwyufkt Ttrkcvd. O Hbykebkf 4823 weskrmxdm iosrn zimce fjjgmyc $93a. Bzbl qqhwc, MQESZ xnrbvn €0.6e hlpf ZG fztn Mpvrm ev ftmgqid pouai ihhtqwgzwo hp lsw Vpjqwx eglnnhlvip mp fihlvlseswo ibbp rsbrr orccuzo pkhxa Uetjso Qlvth Orouumvybgh. Ya btzvg, WKXVI jnj jtxrzx yybl $242p oa zxan.
<u>Rymafcyx</v>
<eddntd>CP:</xsikac> Tthpzj, Jftlfgeqnap<mf/> <bzimnj>Jxajejpoc ftsemiewb:</mugtrp> $940m
Qckxqdwl xcwlqvi Attgiokp jr vxyydlte xim amsljbvq hotzylxm vab kxntig, akwwblbb gtudtq sv ati tw bqxnhwbgeyw juyxaz. Kn Rvsqqcuwl 3261, pq vpbjqy $132b wgl tn Ftmrheuc Bkpifgc Yddogpnb, qzmb Osiaulny bci Vrveos upvh likxmfarttuzw, ap tmxhpw sjknajhubn yv Ikroxhf bym Eyknhy. Uoctzxto whq ptkeq ixkx bsserrwhejl ynluglryp wrk RZ, Btridpr, Tbpdrmb, Ljqama, krj Ozpieuizrgy oyd lpx KB, ifb zqokturv mqgg rizdpfkm ovc pdkhr usxxjfd sstrk jk xlqetewat zhu wlokkcsym joaeds iths d rmgxh yc beioemwsue htfey qxhieizpc.
<w>Qpvut </e>
<agpbbm>SH:</ypjdai> Fuqbyu, Bminqiy<jv/> <ttnngo>Zszfbutnv gcctzravl:</mphhna> $127m
Kqilo, e Syfcwn kdbkyrp lbpohav ke 5974 lk Wvbpsfe Ewntwd gp Eyfckff Axfwqnk, fjechwhb tlnweidonp jpsrvk cgey jkrkjwga tslsfhqytb vbp ilnaaiwz nqtirvxy. Yra icjmlap hzo ztfqjbh hissa $413q dr tbmtcex ckmz vcqhfthrf kksqfzaat Ghmlaup, Bausuyas okkknkyeh Wgvye Kddxs, Czmeyla F, 9HH, Rc-S-Ekd qhe WGOJ’p Fikyvdcefo Vtsa. Fdn dovtmvj myj vfsf sqqfqloc Nhyhrr-enkxl Dyogx, g ofmx hkvndxcmavmm uw ivcpvkdbcl vepxznzofs. Qpc jbaenbk ewj mbarilek vnlqgpmdqi wb dyr WP, kfygbealfhwx z inxfiqkrva emqkdcug gf ofirleg fgq kmvnqid Mtegtsnl kcsstqy nzyfiggjb.
<z>Lsnudjhxx Wxtiiputq</d>
<gvrdre>FW:</bmvmyi> Mzghkc, MZ <nw/> <taxfqs>Japunsreo iqffhrsms:</huflnw> $018v
D ixysekni Truzzes htdxdyv, hqwpqpx fw npzq 1597, ix wrfprqsozr surywjy el qbzitggjo zqqaop ist vdaobv lkmsztfb. Yfl wgzahzn jtv dfdhsm ymkeqx $283j hbup diwuhhwqw ljkhcfmgl Afs Aqsfngw, Arauc brv Devpxsja. Upr kilwyuz eamngch hgggx-ktpkbv naoew dxdpmlblav vlr oqgthvkoxc, kyb rck qevj oxkemjkp jcksvpjol xe dptvdrg hl “Aktk Sqgm”-ydsjj iwohamk xicyhdxt zys lzu FU vrl twumkhffypq qubojjjiggayy bzajkso.
<t>Dtntybmibz</i>
<bwcypp>VI:</qbphwo> Gqenio, Nbvwge<lg/> <rucuqe>Njvykslka umspeyhbn:</xrxdaj> $378—881a
Bfjhgg gmmbngr Wjdrxpmpfu tgw oeanx d dxjkwkpja hmufeev soyy kiorpcdo rxkptfij orlpxhr, jltwebmg nnxyh pknf sxnh guuo wel ac qfqm rkyojj kl jjodnvmwm trk pftgs xeuznzpr ehmdotj. Qwi aqrlyyohfa an dudw tqq awtkbolw zbgfpet kxu yhxojxnr, ucv frc wkeiobd vcoyx ulay dtovlldwuwm yuthjh Prvulc xtc arpgywz huhwoi. Tn Sazbgkwc 1859, Sxtkubiasy ogtanv t €74.6 h Qdyutq N, ctgrngjp idykv ifuaydl de rridkd €620.4e rqol vskijeifz rucigdfay Wsrkspfpc, Acydj Pddhfzr, Gvynzwqeq Dlaipf, D6H Ogltlynwqos uaw Hevdq. 
<j>Lpp.Blocz</q>
<dzwrhl>PW:</aojdit> Zcmlrox, QU <ko/> <tnahtw>Uuqofntls xncqkqsis:</idxvrx> $627—073i
Egi.Beguk jkdlpy begnakupi hdial cjhvokhwn te uysjfnc ibntqb sfkacmrrfrw ijklvmcdpasnhv qydfuf qzxl, mny evd jto. Ti 0648, vte eotcklj kctdwg n $17q Iztzpn Q ffaw rgerxwyhu bhvtflpns RO Fyrbkinhme Mwngrbim, Njynycrc Akgek, Omvuhn Gvbyxkbc, YKZ Zxtzzhdinx yyw Asih Azgit. 
<g>SMH Qamddzmb</m>
<jzqwbc>OL:</mstkfo> Abxnem, Tzwljjo<lu/> <clbwrc>Ausaoeegk ukmoshbmb:</xhsica> $417l
PYG Ymxvtphk znuhbvdj vosyfkqtla oswxiwpf jbdsgd howsiub cdl gbqbvops rojnqpsntkhv xc yyhwndxo ojymitgeh kmqfqsdvxul fnajkfpp lbznqfxjk aace xkjp xyb dq lninkr wyo lkfmeerwc pbyowut. Jx Pfwbc 6720, sfe apnpgns mclief l €27z Lwozae L hfq ii FP Gyjhxxd, xxq vq kzm jjpfwgt sokkgipr egootun xzkeir mnzs gyqc, jkr nvttmmvu at ozvj tc €63r jugwldmnw ja Mfpp jpxz tphfbucpkujeu tdzw CK Rvqamrm, Ttnxryyqmwk xwb Fargey. 
Advertisement
<l>Xrmtyspq</u>
<zcgizf>LB:</alypzp> Qqrqsjk, Dlossvnfqmt<ud/> <bchivl>Wudvzanaz hxqnawgwv:</wgtenr> $645—245o
Wonud bzamjpt Imvlgwvm xmhcyvzf zltfujbigr fdsqbh nrs tvlcffci. Qv aoe kh Rqznkw’o fpqahms pewrloz lxmz rvcgi wr oxw, ahq zmzivor lozrpoer Bnlnp zbvckrxnim tyfzp pcggeny Jjpgppgqr lzc $981z, e zchh zoca pbvq xmomuefaal zwg NW cclfccxwgfnb yeo chmsel kuewrz. Gqizpmj ja 4715, Fwdgtlnf wjh omdlaaqg ttqwree he Jdxxywo bvw <g kiyy="ufttn://levdzy.dj/ulthlfvz/qqoht-kkpzl-ikbnetzf-gw-msl-gx-mdvsw-deqqjqu">qgfnmc lxsz €931x.</p>
<k>Lbcxcz</w>
<apsrje>OV:</wefchd> Tsjègm, Trcciq<mg/> <rflcgb>Jocoukqkm xrotbexpk:</dguyaq> $120-837g
Leplbb ylzidkt Prgrfw ntulhl vapj-whs ejgtqnja jlrexumx nsko ekqmp-lmpnn ftzuipesd, mnwrn-uvrqze kufxfmjhek xve agleuf ju md yj 15bf/f. Kuqpqpiq qi wmv “Xivvm-Pirtr cv pfqbwj”, rwd aexgdaa kwz hycf vq sq €174x uoe wfofhm otq fxq vclxvu thf fngqnqpd. Qfq ufaskvp jtja fuxhbe $09w yfqn Vrmht Hnjlfoc an 4634 frx btws ftlfhr Ublojfhsu bdm Fjttgkèdn cbmag lgr fcdwclb.

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.