# 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.

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
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
Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund
News
June 23, 2026
Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund
The announcement confirms details exclusively reported by Sifted
Martin Coulter
Eric Slesinger’s 201 Ventures plots second defence fund, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
June 19, 2026
Eric Slesinger’s 201 Ventures plots second defence fund, sources say
Slesinger’s debut fund was backed by LPs like the NATO Innovation Fund
Anne Sraders
French battlefield software startup Comand AI raises €32m from Blossom Capital, Saab
News
June 17, 2026
French battlefield software startup Comand AI raises €32m from Blossom Capital, Saab
The startup last raised funding in late 2024 and aims to expand into new domains like air and maritime
Anne Sraders
ChapsVision to replace Palantir in major contract with French intelligence agency
News
June 16, 2026
ChapsVision to replace Palantir in major contract with French intelligence agency
The controversial Palantir contract has caused concerns that the agency was over-reliant on foreign technology for critical services
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
How Europe can build a self-reliant defence tech ecosystem
Sponsored by
June 16, 2026
How Europe can build a self-reliant defence tech ecosystem
European governments are spending more on defence than ever, but experts think fiscal rules and procurement need reforming
Sponsored by: London Business School
UK defence prime BAE Systems invests €50m in VCs Lakestar, Expeditions
News
June 16, 2026
UK defence prime BAE Systems invests €50m in VCs Lakestar, Expeditions
It comes as the defence prime is more actively investing in defence startups via an incubator programme
Anne Sraders
Can the UK roll out military AI at startup speed?
Analysis
June 15, 2026
Can the UK roll out military AI at startup speed?
Defence founders and investors echo concerns over prolonged procurement processes
Martin Coulter
Exclusive: NIF hires ex-EIB investor to run fund of funds programme
Pro
Exclusive
June 12, 2026
Exclusive: NIF hires ex-EIB investor to run fund of funds programme
The role was previously left unfilled after founding partner Thorsten Claus departed in 2024
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
Air Street Capital backs French defence tech Alta Ares in €50m round
News
June 9, 2026
Air Street Capital backs French defence tech Alta Ares in €50m round
Alta Ares builds interceptors which it says are currently deployed in several active combat zones
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
Spacetech EnduroSat eyes $200m Series C months after last round, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
June 2, 2026
Spacetech EnduroSat eyes $200m Series C months after last round, sources say
The company last raised $104m in October from the likes of Google Ventures and Lux Capital
Freya Pratty and Anne Sraders
Earlybird raising €500m defence fund with French investor AVP, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
May 21, 2026
Earlybird raising €500m defence fund with French investor AVP, sources say
It would be a rare joint venture in the European VC ecosystem
Anne Sraders
Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say
Pro
Exclusive
May 21, 2026
Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say
The startup recently won a contract with the German armed forces to supply its kamikaze drones
Anne Sraders
Inside EQT’s plan for the EU’s €5bn superfund: ‘We have over 100 companies in the pipeline’
Pro
Interview
May 19, 2026
Inside EQT’s plan for the EU’s €5bn superfund: ‘We have over 100 companies in the pipeline’
The Swedish firm beat out British VC Atomico to run the EU’s new €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
Dutch dronemaker Destinus in €200m funding talks, reports say
News
May 15, 2026
Dutch dronemaker Destinus in €200m funding talks, reports say
Fast-growing defence startup said to have courted investors in recent weeks
Martin Coulter
Missile startups are ‘the new wave’ in European defence
Pro
Analysis
May 8, 2026
Missile startups are ‘the new wave’ in European defence
Europe’s need for increased missile capabilities is spurring a new set of startups, VCs say
Anne Sraders
Inside European defence tech: 70+ companies mapped
Pro
Market map
May 8, 2026
Inside European defence tech: 70+ companies mapped
Drones, robots, satellites: all the companies aiming to boost European security
Ruggero Di Spigna

# Defence tech

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

Drones startup Stark confirms €500m raise backed by Sequoia and Founders Fund

Eric Slesinger’s 201 Ventures plots second defence fund, sources say

French battlefield software startup Comand AI raises €32m from Blossom Capital, Saab

ChapsVision to replace Palantir in major contract with French intelligence agency

How Europe can build a self-reliant defence tech ecosystem

UK defence prime BAE Systems invests €50m in VCs Lakestar, Expeditions

Can the UK roll out military AI at startup speed?

Exclusive: NIF hires ex-EIB investor to run fund of funds programme

Air Street Capital backs French defence tech Alta Ares in €50m round

Spacetech EnduroSat eyes $200m Series C months after last round, sources say

Earlybird raising €500m defence fund with French investor AVP, sources say

Strike drones startup Stark targeting blockbuster new funding round, sources say

Inside EQT’s plan for the EU’s €5bn superfund: ‘We have over 100 companies in the pipeline’

Dutch dronemaker Destinus in €200m funding talks, reports say

Missile startups are ‘the new wave’ in European defence

Inside European defence tech: 70+ companies mapped