Israel
XTEND Secures $9 Million Middle East Drone Program and Expands UAV Patent Portfolio
Israeli autonomous robotics company XTEND has received approximately $9 million in new defense orders from a customer in the Middle East.
Defence Startups
Industry
BAE Systems Commits €50 Million to European Defense Technology Venture Funds
BAE Systems has allocated €50 million to two European venture capital funds focused on defense and dual-use technologies. The move expands the company's involvement in the startup ecosystem as European governments increase defense spending and seek to accelerate innovation.
Startups
EIF commits €50 million to Join Capital Fund III to support European defence and dual-use deeptech
The European Investment Fund has committed €50 million to Join Capital’s third venture capital fund through the InvestEU Defence Equity Facility. The fund will target early-stage European startups developing dual-use technologies for defence, security, and space.
Netherlands
Onodrim Industries Raises €40 Million Seed Funding to Build Europe’s Defence Tech Base
Amsterdam-based Onodrim Industries has secured €40 million in seed funding from leading U.S. and European venture firms to accelerate the development of advanced defence manufacturing and networked systems, as Europe moves to strengthen its industrial and military capabilities.
Defence Startups
European Defence, Security and Resilience Startups Hit Record $8.7B VC Funding in 2025
Venture capital investment in European defence, security and resilience startups surged to an unprecedented $8.7 billion in 2025, driven by large late-stage rounds and increasing investor interest in deep tech for security applications.
Belgium
Europe Picks Seven Tech Scale-Up Finalists for DIGITALEUROPE’s 2026 Future Unicorn Awards
DIGITALEUROPE, the continent’s largest digital industry association, has named seven finalist companies for the 2026 Future Unicorn Awards across Future Unicorn and Dual-Use Technology categories. The winners will be revealed at the Masters of Digital 2026 conference in Brussels on 25-26 February.
United Kingdom
UK Accelerator Selects Eight Firms for NATO DIANA 2026
The UK-based Janus Allies accelerator has selected eight companies for the 2026 NATO DIANA programme, following a highly competitive call focused on contested electromagnetic environments and dual-use defence technologies.
Opinion
How France Became Europe’s Command Center for Defence Innovation
At a time when strategic competition is rising across Europe, France has quietly re-engineered its defense innovation ecosystem.