Ukrainian-Lithuanian Startup Raises €1M for Drone Interceptor Radars
Valkyrie Dynamics has secured €1 million to develop miniature radar seekers for interceptor drones, targeting low-cost air defense systems capable of operating in poor visibility.
Ukrainian-Lithuanian defense technology startup Valkyrie Dynamics has raised €1 million in pre-seed funding to develop and manufacture miniature radar systems for drone interceptors. The investment, announced on November 10, was led by Paris-based venture studio Hexa, with participation from private investors specializing in defense technology.
Headquartered in Lithuania, the company operates a research and development laboratory in Kyiv, where its engineers work alongside Ukrainian drone operators to test and improve the technology.
Its main product, Heimdall, is a compact radar seeker designed to help interceptor drones detect and track airborne targets when optical and thermal cameras struggle to operate effectively.
Heimdall Radar Targets All-Weather Drone Interception
Heimdall is designed to fit inside the nose of first-person-view interceptor drones and autonomous aerial platforms. It uses radio-frequency sensing to provide target information during the final stage of an interception.
According to Valkyrie Dynamics, the system can support target tracking at distances of approximately 100 to 500 meters during the terminal approach, including in fog, rain, smoke and other conditions that reduce camera visibility.
The radar weighs approximately 100 grams, while the company is targeting a production cost below €300 per unit when manufactured at scale. This is a projected price rather than a confirmed commercial selling price.
The technology is intended to address the growing demand for affordable alternatives to expensive surface-to-air missiles, particularly when defending against large numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Heimdall can support manually piloted interceptor drones and autonomous operations when integrated with compatible third-party guidance systems.
The company has already conducted flight tests with Korven Systems, a Ukrainian-Estonian developer of autonomous guidance technologies for interceptor drones. However, the companies have not disclosed independently verified interception success rates or large-scale procurement contracts.
Funding to Expand Manufacturing and European Operations
Valkyrie Dynamics was founded by Marcin Kovalevskij, an engineering physicist who previously worked on electronics and embedded flight systems at French research organization CNRS and aerospace company Exotrail.
The startup began developing its radar technology after discussions with Ukrainian military personnel in 2025. By October 2026, it had developed a working prototype and joined the Hexa Sprint Defense program for European defense and dual-use startups.
The new investment will support production of Heimdall's first version, further research and development, and recruitment of additional engineers.
Valkyrie Dynamics is also developing radar seekers with longer detection ranges and wider fields of view. It plans to establish technical integration hubs in Europe to support cooperation with manufacturers and potential NATO procurement programs.
The investment highlights an emerging segment of Europe's counter-drone industry, where smaller companies are developing specialized sensors and guidance components intended for integration into existing interceptor platforms.
