# 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 top VC predictions for Europe in 2026
Analysis
December 19, 2025
The top VC predictions for Europe in 2026
Europe’s VCs expect an influx of Chinese tech into industrial segments in Europe, a defence bubble burst and opportunities for angel investors next year
Anne Sraders
European tech’s 2025 in data: VC funding reaches its third-best year on record
Sifted data
December 19, 2025
European tech’s 2025 in data: VC funding reaches its third-best year on record
Europe’s top eight tech hubs all record year-on-year funding growth, as AI investment jumps 161%
Jonathan Sinclair and Federico Scolari
NATO Innovation Fund chair Fiona Murray: ‘The threat from Russia is extremely real’
Podcast
December 18, 2025
NATO Innovation Fund chair Fiona Murray: ‘The threat from Russia is extremely real’
Since becoming operational in 2023, the fund has faced significant scrutiny
Maya Dharampal-Hornby and Amy Lewin
Quantum Systems buys autonomous trucking startup Fernride following pivot to defence
News
December 17, 2025
Quantum Systems buys autonomous trucking startup Fernride following pivot to defence
Fernride began expanding into defence applications this year
Anne Sraders
Why Europe needs defence VC
Opinion
December 11, 2025
Why Europe needs defence VC
Without a focus on R&D and defence-first investing, Europe risks becoming a buyer instead of a builder
Nicholas Nelson
Exclusive: British air force vet raises £5m for solo GP defence and dual use fund
Exclusive
December 11, 2025
Exclusive: British air force vet raises £5m for solo GP defence and dual use fund
Twin Track Ventures only backs startups with both commercial and military use cases
Anne Sraders
NATO Innovation Fund forced to pay €52k to former partner
Exclusive
December 9, 2025
NATO Innovation Fund forced to pay €52k to former partner
Founding partner Thorsten Claus earned almost €700k a year at the taxpayer-funded firm, court documents from August reveal
Anne Sraders and Freya Pratty
Satellite startup Iceye hits €2.4bn valuation as it zeroes in on defence
News
December 5, 2025
Satellite startup Iceye hits €2.4bn valuation as it zeroes in on defence
Finnish startup working with defence primes and governments in countries like Finland and the Netherlands
Anne Sraders
Quantum Systems vs Helsing: Where is the talent coming from?
Analysis
December 1, 2025
Quantum Systems vs Helsing: Where is the talent coming from?
A new analysis from executive recruitment firm The Big Search shows more ex-military talent going into startups
Martin Coulter
Italian defence prime Leonardo ‘hungry like a wolf’ to acquire more startups
Interview
November 28, 2025
Italian defence prime Leonardo ‘hungry like a wolf’ to acquire more startups
The defence prime says it’s thinking of partnering with companies like Helsing and Anduril
Anne Sraders
Skeleton opens second factory to bolster AI, defence and the electricity grid
News
November 28, 2025
Skeleton opens second factory to bolster AI, defence and the electricity grid
The Estonian battery company expects revenues of over €100m and to reach profitability by the end of 2026
Mimi Billing
VC and defence tech — a recipe for disaster?
Opinion
November 27, 2025
VC and defence tech — a recipe for disaster?
Capitalising on wartime disruption comes with debris
Elke Schwarz
Founders will miss out on ‘10x’ their valuation if they don’t lean into the defence hype, says Iceye cofounder
Interview
November 24, 2025
Founders will miss out on ‘10x’ their valuation if they don’t lean into the defence hype, says Iceye cofounder
Finnish spacetech Iceye has been leaning into defence; cofounder Pekka Laurila thinks other startups might need to as well
Anne Sraders
Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech
Investigations
November 19, 2025
Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech
Hommels has earned a venerable reputation in European VC and defence — but his web of investments have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest
Anne Sraders, Freya Pratty and Miriam Partington
Drone maker Quantum Systems set to close €200m raise led by Balderton
News
November 19, 2025
Drone maker Quantum Systems set to close €200m raise led by Balderton
The UK-based VC previously led the defence tech startup’s May funding round
Anne Sraders
French spacetech Infinite Orbits raises €40m for European expansion
News
November 17, 2025
French spacetech Infinite Orbits raises €40m for European expansion
The Toulouse-based startup plans to open offices in five more European countries
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet
The European founders making defence angel bets
List
November 14, 2025
The European founders making defence angel bets
From ARX Robotics’ cofounder to ICEYE’s CEO, defence founders are increasingly making their own bets on the sector
Anne Sraders
NATO Innovation Fund hires new partner from BP Ventures
News
November 11, 2025
NATO Innovation Fund hires new partner from BP Ventures
New partner Erin Hallock joins the fund’s depleted team following a stream of senior exits
Freya Pratty and Anne Sraders
Defence unicorns Helsing and Quantum Systems eye Taiwan
Analysis
November 7, 2025
Defence unicorns Helsing and Quantum Systems eye Taiwan
Some warn European defence techs’ moves could stoke geopolitical tensions
Maya Dharampal-Hornby and Freya Pratty
Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia
Exclusive
November 6, 2025
Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia
PhysicsX is building an AI software platform to quickly design parts for manufacturing projects in industries such as defence and aerospace
Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry
Analysis
November 6, 2025
Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry
Reaction to the buzzy German strike drone startup’s recent military test failures may be overblown — but could damage wider industry
Anne Sraders
M&A: The European startups on the hunt for acquisitions
List
November 5, 2025
M&A: The European startups on the hunt for acquisitions
Sifted lists 14 European startups targeting M&A opportunities, amidst an uptick in activity due to acqui-hiring sprees and roll-ups
Federico Scolari and Jonathan Sinclair
Europe breaks records across AI, defence and quantum in Q3
Sifted data
November 3, 2025
Europe breaks records across AI, defence and quantum in Q3
Dealmaking spiked in Q3, with seven new unicorns and two jumbo AI raises
Federico Scolari, Ruggero Di Spigna and Jonathan Sinclair
Defence startups 'getting their foot' in the door with Italian primes — but the ecosystem still lags
Interview
October 30, 2025
Defence startups 'getting their foot' in the door with Italian primes — but the ecosystem still lags
Local deeptech VCs at Join Capital are cautiously optimistic the Italian defence ecosystem will grow
Anne Sraders

# Defence tech

The top VC predictions for Europe in 2026

European tech’s 2025 in data: VC funding reaches its third-best year on record

NATO Innovation Fund chair Fiona Murray: ‘The threat from Russia is extremely real’

Quantum Systems buys autonomous trucking startup Fernride following pivot to defence

Why Europe needs defence VC

Exclusive: British air force vet raises £5m for solo GP defence and dual use fund

NATO Innovation Fund forced to pay €52k to former partner

Satellite startup Iceye hits €2.4bn valuation as it zeroes in on defence

Quantum Systems vs Helsing: Where is the talent coming from?

Italian defence prime Leonardo ‘hungry like a wolf’ to acquire more startups

Skeleton opens second factory to bolster AI, defence and the electricity grid

VC and defence tech — a recipe for disaster?

Founders will miss out on ‘10x’ their valuation if they don’t lean into the defence hype, says Iceye cofounder

Klaus Hommels: the divisive VC at the centre of European defence tech

Drone maker Quantum Systems set to close €200m raise led by Balderton

French spacetech Infinite Orbits raises €40m for European expansion

The European founders making defence angel bets

NATO Innovation Fund hires new partner from BP Ventures

Defence unicorns Helsing and Quantum Systems eye Taiwan

Exclusive: AI startup PhysicsX to raise up to $100m from Nvidia

Strike drone startup Stark’s military test failures could have ‘damaging’ effect on industry

M&A: The European startups on the hunt for acquisitions

Europe breaks records across AI, defence and quantum in Q3

Defence startups 'getting their foot' in the door with Italian primes — but the ecosystem still lags