# 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 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
15 hardware startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs
Pro
Investor survey
May 1, 2026
15 hardware startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs
From orbital transfer vehicles to chemical recycling, these are the hardware startups VCs are eyeing this year
Anne Sraders
Kelluu raises €15m to secure Europe’s skies with autonomous airships
News
April 14, 2026
Kelluu raises €15m to secure Europe’s skies with autonomous airships
A small fleet of the startup’s aircraft can monitor an area the size of Belgium from a single base
Martin Coulter
14 Ukrainian defence techs to watch
Pro
Investor survey
April 6, 2026
14 Ukrainian defence techs to watch
Investors from Ukraine’s tech sector share their picks
Mimi Billing
Swiss spacetech Pave Space raises $40m seed round as concerns around space sovereignty heat up
Pro
News
March 25, 2026
Swiss spacetech Pave Space raises $40m seed round as concerns around space sovereignty heat up
Visionaries Club and Creandum co-led the deal
Anne Sraders
Can Ukrainian tech revitalise European defence?
Pro
Analysis
March 25, 2026
Can Ukrainian tech revitalise European defence?
Europe must adopt fast-evolving drone warfare, says Frontline Robotics’ Mykyta Rozhkov
Mimi Billing
Exclusive: Air defence startup Egide raises €8m seed round
Pro
Exclusive
March 23, 2026
Exclusive: Air defence startup Egide raises €8m seed round
The Paris-based startup is building software and hardware to intercept drones and plans to expand to other threats
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
French-Italian VC 360 Capital raises €85m for deeptech fund backed by European defence prime
Pro
Exclusive
March 23, 2026
French-Italian VC 360 Capital raises €85m for deeptech fund backed by European defence prime
The new fund will back up to 25 startups and spinouts in areas like semiconductors, cybersecurity, robotics and the energy transition
Anne Sraders

# Defence tech

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

15 hardware startups to watch in 2026, according to VCs

Kelluu raises €15m to secure Europe’s skies with autonomous airships

14 Ukrainian defence techs to watch

Swiss spacetech Pave Space raises $40m seed round as concerns around space sovereignty heat up

Can Ukrainian tech revitalise European defence?

Exclusive: Air defence startup Egide raises €8m seed round

French-Italian VC 360 Capital raises €85m for deeptech fund backed by European defence prime