# Defence tech

The latest news and analysis on Europe’s defence tech sector, including the startups to watch, who's investing and the latest industry trends.

Growth investor DTCP raises €455m first close for defence fund, plots future funds
News
September 24, 2026
Growth investor DTCP raises €455m first close for defence fund, plots future funds
The firm launched the fund in January and has already made two investments
Anne Sraders
Exclusive: NIF backs defence startup Terasi in €11m raise
Pro
Exclusive
September 22, 2026
Exclusive: NIF backs defence startup Terasi in €11m raise
The NATO Innovation Fund confirmed details of its first investment in a Swedish startup
Martin Coulter
A16z wants to back more European startups — but won’t reopen European office anytime soon
Pro
Interview
September 22, 2026
A16z wants to back more European startups — but won’t reopen European office anytime soon
General partner Anish Acharya talks the hottest AI trends, the "advantage" European startups have over SF and the European consumer
Anne Sraders
US VC FirstMark: ‘Europe is underrated’ right now among American investors
Pro
Interview
September 11, 2026
US VC FirstMark: ‘Europe is underrated’ right now among American investors
The New York firm has backed startups like Legora, Harmattan AI and Synthesia
Anne Sraders
German spacetech Isar Aerospace’s second rocket launch reaches orbit in milestone
News
September 5, 2026
German spacetech Isar Aerospace’s second rocket launch reaches orbit in milestone
The rocket reached orbit in a big step for the Munich-based company after multiple scrubs this year
Anne Sraders
Defence startups lean on the Danish model to support Ukraine’s war efforts: ‘It’s a win-win’
Pro
Analysis
August 31, 2026
Defence startups lean on the Danish model to support Ukraine’s war efforts: ‘It’s a win-win’
Can Denmark become an important base for Europe’s defence against Russian hostilities? Some think so.
Mimi Billing
Europe’s ‘answer to Delaware’ could help the continent rearm
Opinion
August 31, 2026
Europe’s ‘answer to Delaware’ could help the continent rearm
Denys Gurak, cofounder at MITS Capital, on why the 28th regime is particularly important for the defence sector
Denys Gurak
Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year
Pro
Sifted data
August 28, 2026
Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year
More than a third of all German VC funding since Sifted started tracking in 2024 has gone to just 10 companies
Tom Nugent and Jonathan Sinclair
10 drone startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs
Pro
Investor survey
August 14, 2026
10 drone startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs
From micro drones that get rid of mosquitoes to firefighting, VCs are looking outside of defence
Anne Sraders
Drone startup Uforce targeting upwards of $4bn valuation in new raise, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
August 12, 2026
Drone startup Uforce targeting upwards of $4bn valuation in new raise, sources say
The new talks come less than six months after the startup’s $50m fundraise
Anne Sraders
Accel raises $800m for ninth early-stage Europe fund
News
August 12, 2026
Accel raises $800m for ninth early-stage Europe fund
The US firm has been actively backing big European defence and AI startups
Anne Sraders
Tony Blair’s son seeks $200m for new defence startup, reports say
News
August 11, 2026
Tony Blair’s son seeks $200m for new defence startup, reports say
Nick Blair’s new company promises to help UK ‘transform its sovereign industrial base’
Martin Coulter
UK air defence startup Cambridge Aerospace hits $3.4bn valuation in new fundraise
News
August 10, 2026
UK air defence startup Cambridge Aerospace hits $3.4bn valuation in new fundraise
The two-year-old startup raised $300m
Anne Sraders
Blossom Capital is dipping into defence. Here’s what the VC is looking for
Pro
Interview
July 31, 2026
Blossom Capital is dipping into defence. Here’s what the VC is looking for
The firm invested in three defence startups in the last year
Anne Sraders
One of Europe’s most active LPs is looking for VCs with ‘industrial know-how’
Pro
Interview
July 29, 2026
One of Europe’s most active LPs is looking for VCs with ‘industrial know-how’
British firm Molten Ventures is eyeing specialist funds in areas like space, defence and health
Anne Sraders
UK defence tech has ‘high hopes’ for new finance minister John Healey
Pro
Analysis
July 22, 2026
UK defence tech has ‘high hopes’ for new finance minister John Healey
Founders and investors say appointment 'signals seriousness' to NATO allies
Anne Sraders and Martin Coulter
The sectors with the most momentum heading into H2
Pro
Sifted data
July 17, 2026
The sectors with the most momentum heading into H2
Sifted dug into the data to discover the hottest sectors across Europe in the first half of 2026
Jonathan Sinclair
Peter Sarlin’s NestAI wants to help Europe reduce reliance on foreign models for defence
Pro
Interview
July 14, 2026
Peter Sarlin’s NestAI wants to help Europe reduce reliance on foreign models for defence
The startup is launching AI models for defence it says will help Europe own and control its own tech, reducing reliance on foreign providers
Tom Nugent
Exclusive: Defence tech Project Q lands €15m Series A 11 months after last raise
Pro
Exclusive
July 14, 2026
Exclusive: Defence tech Project Q lands €15m Series A 11 months after last raise
Expeditions led the round, which also included German defence specialist Hensoldt and VC Heliad
Tom Nugent
Helsing raises $1.8bn backed by Goldman and Lightspeed
News
July 13, 2026
Helsing raises $1.8bn backed by Goldman and Lightspeed
Munich-based defence startup valuation ticks up to $18bn with latest round
Martin Coulter
Europe’s newest defence unicorn raises $175m Series B
News
July 9, 2026
Europe’s newest defence unicorn raises $175m Series B
Kraken Technology Group designs and manufactures maritime technologies and vehicles for coastal security
Tom Nugent
Drone maker Quantum Systems raises $1.2bn, eyes humanoids
News
July 2, 2026
Drone maker Quantum Systems raises $1.2bn, eyes humanoids
The scaleup has hit an $8bn valuation
Anne Sraders
Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan
Pro
Analysis
July 1, 2026
Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan
Some of Europe's top drone startups are eagerly awaiting more UK defence spending
Anne Sraders and Tom Nugent
The voice-controlled drones startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp
Pro
Interview
June 26, 2026
The voice-controlled drones startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp
Munich-based SE3 Labs says it is working with the German armed forces
Anne Sraders

# Defence tech

Growth investor DTCP raises €455m first close for defence fund, plots future funds

Exclusive: NIF backs defence startup Terasi in €11m raise

A16z wants to back more European startups — but won’t reopen European office anytime soon

US VC FirstMark: ‘Europe is underrated’ right now among American investors

German spacetech Isar Aerospace’s second rocket launch reaches orbit in milestone

Defence startups lean on the Danish model to support Ukraine’s war efforts: ‘It’s a win-win’

Europe’s ‘answer to Delaware’ could help the continent rearm

Just three deals make up almost half of all VC funding in Germany this year

10 drone startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs

Drone startup Uforce targeting upwards of $4bn valuation in new raise, sources say

Accel raises $800m for ninth early-stage Europe fund

Tony Blair’s son seeks $200m for new defence startup, reports say

UK air defence startup Cambridge Aerospace hits $3.4bn valuation in new fundraise

Blossom Capital is dipping into defence. Here’s what the VC is looking for

One of Europe’s most active LPs is looking for VCs with ‘industrial know-how’

UK defence tech has ‘high hopes’ for new finance minister John Healey

The sectors with the most momentum heading into H2

Peter Sarlin’s NestAI wants to help Europe reduce reliance on foreign models for defence

Exclusive: Defence tech Project Q lands €15m Series A 11 months after last raise

Helsing raises $1.8bn backed by Goldman and Lightspeed

Europe’s newest defence unicorn raises $175m Series B

Drone maker Quantum Systems raises $1.2bn, eyes humanoids

Startups and VCs divided over UK’s long-awaited defence investment plan

The voice-controlled drones startup backed by Lakestar and Seedcamp