European defence tech startups

Develops autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft carrying 100 to 500 kg for defence, offshore and remote logistics.

AI information intelligence platform that automates research and analysis for defence, national security and commercial customers.

Designs, mass-produces and operates satellite platforms for Earth observation and telecommunications for government and commercial customers.

Builds synthetic battlefields where AI-enabled weapons such as counter-drone systems train and iterate against simulated threats.

Generates procedural synthetic image datasets, RGB and infrared with pixel-perfect labels, to train computer vision models for defence AI.

Builds AI software for autonomous spacecraft operations, including onboard autonomy (orbital_OLIVER) and predictive maintenance tools.

Space surveillance and traffic management company offering collision avoidance, constellation monitoring and orbital tracking services.

Cybersecurity for robots and unmanned systems, including the open source CAI framework and on premise cybersecurity language models for defence users.

Builds Sentinel, an airborne counter-drone system that detects, classifies and intercepts hostile drones using AI and onboard sensors.

Builds AI-guided low-cost interceptors, including X-Lock against Shahed-type drones and Black Bird against cruise missiles.

University of Southampton spinout building compact cold atom quantum sensors for navigation and timing that keep working when GPS is jammed.

Builds Cobalt, a hardware-agnostic AI command-and-control layer for orchestrating mixed fleets of drones, robots and sensors.

Builds modular unmanned ground vehicles and the Mithra OS software that retrofits military vehicles with autonomy.

Develops secure, jam-resistant laser communication terminals and optical ground stations for space-to-ground links and defence multi-domain operations.

Develops PHOENIX orbital transport and re-entry vehicles for payload return, with an ATMOS WORKS unit serving government and defence customers.

AI sensor intelligence platform that turns existing cameras and sensors at transport hubs and critical infrastructure into threat detection networks.

End to end drone transport service for cargo and medical deliveries, with over 9,000 completed flights.

Makes autonomous VTOL and multirotor drones plus the beXStream mission software; preparing interceptor and underwater systems.

Makes portable underwater drones (ROVs) used by navies, coast guards and military engineers for inspection and mine countermeasures.

Builds optical ground stations and laser communication terminals, plus optical components for directed energy weapons and rangefinders.

Makes Skyhammer, a low-cost radar-guided interceptor to defeat Shahed-type drones and subsonic missiles.

Counter Defense Drone Systems builds autonomous kinetic interceptor drones that detect, track and physically neutralise small hostile drones.

Radiofrequency counter-drone systems that detect, identify and neutralise malicious drones for armed forces, prisons and critical sites.

Builds Prevail, an AI-native command-and-control workspace with agents for mission planning and tactical decision support.

Provides cyber ranges and live-fire cyber exercise and training platforms for armed forces, governments and enterprises.

Builds the EIRSHIELD multi-layer counter-UAS system, interceptor drones, the EUROMITE uncrewed surface vessel and mobile surveillance platforms.

Greek defence-tech company building autonomous surveillance towers, uncrewed aerial and maritime vehicles, and sensor systems.

TUM spin-out building the MULE orbital transfer vehicle, cryogenic propulsion modules and thrusters, plus a MOLE loitering spacecraft for sovereign missions.

Develops and produces long-range strike drones and cruise missiles plus related propulsion for European militaries.

Builds glasses-free mixed-reality displays projecting navigation and threat data onto transparent surfaces inside military vehicles.

Builds AURA AI, an onboard computer and autonomy stack for navigation, target tracking and terminal guidance without GPS or comms.

Belgian maritime tech firm building multi-sensor surveillance above and below water, fusing radar, cameras, infrared and fibre acoustic sensing for critical infrastructure.

Makes passive drone detection receivers, Scout and RIDER, that read Remote ID broadcasts to locate drones and their operators, plus Remote ID transmitters.

Develops NEST, an autonomous drone-in-a-box system for 24/7 security surveillance and inspection.

Develops snake-like autonomous underwater vehicles for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair.

Makes tethered drone systems for persistent aerial surveillance and communications for defence, police and public safety users.

Designs, builds and operates software-defined nanosatellites and ESPA-class spacecraft for commercial and government missions.

Makes FEEP electric propulsion systems for nano and microsatellites, used for satellite manoeuvring in constellations.

Offers an agentic AI hacker that continuously discovers and security-tests APIs for critical-sector organisations.

Embedded cybersecurity platform protecting firmware and connected devices at runtime; reported in over one billion devices.

Ukrainian-Estonian AI platform turning drone footage into live 3D battlefield models for mission planning with UAVs and UGVs.

Deployable additive manufacturing micro factories (NOMAD series) that print spare parts in the field for defence and industrial users.

Sant'Anna School spin-off making electric robotic arms with fluidic transmission for extreme environments, evaluated on mobile platforms for CBRN missions.

Polish maker of fixed-wing UAV platforms, avionics and ground control systems built with NATO-aligned components.

Builds and operates a constellation of small LEO satellites for IoT connectivity, now developing space based detection and geolocation of jamming and emissions.

Develops low-cost guided missiles to intercept drones at scale.

Develops and operates long-range BVLOS drones with AI analytics for infrastructure inspection and defence applications.

Develops refuelable green-propellant rocket engines and mobility solutions for satellite manoeuvring, collision avoidance and disposal.

Aalto University spin-off making localisation, situational awareness and obstacle avoidance software for autonomous machines, including GNSS-denied navigation for military UGVs.

Manufactures software-defined laser communication terminals for satellites (ERMESAI+) and airborne or drone platforms (ARES).

Makes FireBreak, a hardware device that physically isolates and segments networks from the internet on demand to block remote cyber attacks.

Builds fixed-wing ISR drones such as the Hornet XR, stabilised gimbals and EW-resilient data links.

Develops ducted fan electric propulsion, airframes and launch systems for drones, including engines for low-cost drone interceptors.

Develops the GA 1000, a pallet-sized laser counter-drone system combining radar, computer vision and AI tracking.

Develops autonomous defence systems and AI for ISR drones, drone interception and electronic warfare platforms.

IMAS edge AI system giving real time onboard guidance and fleet analytics for crewed and uncrewed naval and patrol vessels.

Defence AI company building software and autonomous systems, including the HX-2 strike drone and CA-1 Europa uncrewed combat aircraft.

Builds autonomous all electric submarine motherships deploying ROVs, remotely controlled from shore, for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair.

Builds compact underwater drones, inspection robots and wireless optical communication for subsea monitoring and infrastructure security.

DLR spin-off developing hybrid-propulsion rockets; its SR75 suborbital vehicle serves defence, hypersonic testing and threat simulation.

Developing European hypersonic strike missiles and glide vehicles; prototype flew above Mach 6 from Andøya, Norway, in 2026.

Builds and operates the largest commercial SAR satellite constellation, providing all-weather radar imaging to defence and government customers.

Automates steered-fibre composite manufacturing with Rapid Tow Shearing to produce lighter, stronger structures for aerospace, defence and automotive.

Provides in-orbit servicing for satellites, including inspection, life extension and maintenance, mainly in geostationary orbit.

Patented multispectral thermal camouflage fabric that disperses heat to hide soldiers and equipment from thermal cameras, including drone sensors.

Laser Zentrum Hannover spin-off building FASTLIGHT laser effectors to defeat drones for military and critical infrastructure protection.

Builds and launches the Spectrum small-satellite orbital rocket, positioned as sovereign European access to space.

Sovereign, AI driven pop up 5G mesh networks on proprietary hardware for contested, denied or remote environments, including buoy mounted maritime nodes.

Operates autonomous hydrogen-powered airships providing persistent aerial surveillance between satellites and drones.

Builds the Nautilus subsea robot that creates a dry habitat underwater to inspect and repair pipelines, risers and hulls, including 3D-printed metal repairs.

Builds onboard AI computers and software that process satellite data in orbit for faster Earth observation and autonomy.

Builds modular, open-architecture uncrewed surface vessels such as K3 Scout, K5 Kraken and K7 Sabre for surveillance, force protection and strike missions.

Develops Very Low Earth Orbit satellites with air-breathing electric propulsion for sharper imaging and direct-to-device connectivity.

Operates a hyperspectral satellite constellation with AI analytics for maritime, security and environmental intelligence.

Builds tactical autonomous UAVs and onboard autonomy stacks that navigate and complete missions without GPS or radio links.

Space surveillance company building a sovereign radar network and data platform for space situational and domain awareness.

ICFO spin-off making continuous-variable quantum key distribution systems that run over existing fibre networks.

Building a very high-resolution Earth observation satellite constellation delivering near-hourly imagery and analytics for defence and crisis management.

Makes passive drone detection, classification and targeting systems, the Marduk Shark and the compact Piraya.

Develops autonomous surface vessels and autonomy software for ISR and maritime patrol in coastal and offshore waters.

Polish-Ukrainian developer of tactical radars that detect small low-flying drones, including fibre-optic FPVs.

Danish-Lithuanian maker of the Falcon MK3S reconnaissance drone and HydroHex air-water platform, built to keep links under jamming.

AI decision layer that turns commander intent into coordinated autonomous action across mixed fleets of drones and ground robots.

Makes RF drone detectors, wearable sensors and jammers plus spectrum intelligence software for soldiers, vehicles and fixed sites.

Defence AI lab building NestOS, a modular battlefield operating system and physical AI for unmanned vehicles and C2.

Provides AI-driven space traffic management that automates collision risk assessment and manoeuvre planning for satellite operators.

Develops the Kreuger 100 family of low-cost, battery-powered kinetic drone interceptors built with a European supply chain.

Autonomy software for strike drones; its Occam Ambush module provides autonomous detection, tracking and targeting on FPV drones.

Li-Fi and laser optical wireless communications for military drones, vehicles and satellites, designed to work where radio links are jammed or detectable.

Builds Scout, a compact solar-powered autonomous surface vessel, and Tether fleet command software for maritime security and anti-submarine warfare.

Defence industrial platform building multi-domain sensing, networked systems and manufacturing for border protection and allied interoperability.

Builds and operates satellites and constellations delivering Earth-observation data and connectivity services to governments and institutions.

Satellite operator providing 5G non-terrestrial IoT and connectivity services for government, defence, energy and maritime users.

Polish-Romanian developer of AI-based autonomous and swarming drone systems for military and security use.

Makes the BLAZE autonomous interceptor drone and the Beak strike UAV for NATO armed forces.

Croatian maker of FPV drones, goggles and components, producing European-made FPV systems for defence use.

Ukraine-born AI platform detecting hostile intent across cyber, physical and information domains for governments and critical infrastructure.

Builds intelligent autonomous systems that interpret data, coordinate action and support real-time decisions for defence and security users.

Makes Gannet, a drone-agnostic, GNSS-independent precision guidance kit for UAV-dropped munitions.

Spanish launch company developing the reusable Miura 5 orbital rocket for sovereign European access to space.

Develops reusable spaceplanes and hypersonic test vehicles using aerospike engines, under contract to Germany's defence procurement office.

Builds Hydris, an open-source integration platform linking sensors, unmanned systems and command systems into an Internet of Defence.

Provides RF detection and geolocation of emitters and jammers, UAV-borne EW payloads and spectrum operations software.

Maker of electric VTOL reconnaissance drones and autonomous ISR systems for military and government customers.

Designs and builds custom LEO satellites for optical, SAR, space domain awareness and SIGINT missions for defence customers.

AI-powered binary analysis platform that inspects compiled software and firmware without source code to find malicious functions and vulnerabilities.

Develops IRIS 3D radars that detect and classify drones and birds for military, airport and critical infrastructure protection.

Platform agnostic perception software for detection, tracking, vision based navigation and GNSS denied flight across drones, ground robots and underwater vehicles.

Designs and builds deployable sensing, communications and information systems for degraded edge environments, serving the British Army and UK MoD.

Develops contactless MicroWire sensors measuring temperature, pressure, magnetic field, stress and vibration for embedding in materials and systems.

Develops software-defined 10K camera systems with onboard AI giving UAVs wide-area, high-detail perception.

Builds optical Earth observation payloads and small FlexSat satellites, with a defence and security ISR offering for borders and maritime.

Builds a constellation of high-resolution thermal infrared satellites delivering day and night heat intelligence for defence, government and energy users.

Uppsala University spin-off offering Scaleout Edge, federated learning and edge AI infrastructure for drones and tactical computer vision.

Developing modular micro nuclear reactors and nuclear propulsion for ships, naval and seabed operations and other extreme environments.

Makes Airfence, a counter-drone system that detects drones via their radio signals and can take control of them.

Designs and manufactures unmanned ground robots for firefighting, explosive ordnance disposal and security missions.

Develops autonomous AI guidance systems that let satellites detect jamming and other threats and manoeuvre to safety without ground control.

Develops a rotary, gatling-style 12-gauge kinetic system to defeat FPV drones and loitering munitions at 50 to 100 metres.

FFI spin-out building Valkyrie, swarm autonomy software letting mixed UAV fleets operate as coordinated teams under operator control.

Modelling and simulation software providing synthetic environments, digital twins and decision support for defence and national security.

Digital RF engineering firm behind ASTRO, a field reprogrammable wideband radio processor combining radar and communications modes for congested spectrum.

Manufactures advanced semiconductor materials in orbit using returnable ForgeStar satellites, exploiting microgravity, vacuum and extreme temperatures.

Space domain awareness company running a global ground based optical telescope network that tracks satellites and debris in all orbits, day and night.

Develops remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles for seabed mapping, unexploded ordnance detection and hull cleaning.

Develops and manufactures the Virtus long-range loitering munition and related strike drone systems for European armed forces.

Builds AI-driven multi-sensor hardware and software for drone detection, tracking and situational awareness.

Develops autonomous uncrewed surface vessels for defence and commercial offshore data acquisition.

Builds a data platform fusing sensor, economic and supply chain data for defence, intelligence and critical infrastructure users.

Develops autonomous underwater drones for port security, mine countermeasures, hydrography and critical infrastructure inspection.

Defence tech startup developing bio-robotic swarms based on living cockroaches for reconnaissance in war zones.

Building a TNT production plant in Nora, Sweden, to supply explosives for European artillery and drone munitions.

Portuguese maker of AI-enabled long-endurance ISR drones (AR3, AR5) used by militaries and maritime agencies.

Retrofit kits that turn existing military vehicles, from ATVs to armoured carriers, into remotely driven platforms over Starlink or radio links.

KTH spinout building millimetre-wave AirCore radios that form narrow, hard to detect and hard to jam links for tactical communications.

Arctic test range and services for GNSS jamming, spoofing and spectrum resilience, recording real interference for lab replay.

Builds passive acoustic sensor networks to detect and classify underwater activity, including uncrewed underwater vehicles.

Develops combat-tested defence systems including the Chorna long-range autonomous strike platform, tactical ISR UAVs and resilient combat communications.

Mass-manufacturable, cost-efficient 10-inch Q-X quadcopter drones for European and allied military units.

Develops AI-guided interceptor drones (METIS) to defeat Class I-II aerial threats including Shahed-type drones.

Designs and builds modular small satellites and constellations for public and private customers, aiming to produce one satellite per week.

Orbital AI company offering Live Maritime Intelligence that tasks satellites and sensors to detect threats to cables, pipelines and sea lanes.

Ukrainian-founded, UK-headquartered maker of combat-proven uncrewed air, land and sea systems, including Magura naval drones.

Operates a satellite constellation that detects and geolocates ships from space via their radio-frequency emissions.

Chemically regenerates carbon fibre and aramid composites into defence- and aerospace-grade materials for European supply chains.

Develops HILDR, an autonomous close-range system that detects, tracks and neutralises drones at 0 to 30 metres.

Develops head-mounted mixed-reality displays and a multi-domain command platform linking crewed vehicles, uncrewed systems and commanders.

Suite ACRE command and control platform that coordinates drones, crewed aircraft and counter drone systems in low altitude airspace.

Edge AI visual autonomy software for drones, counter-drone systems and defence cameras, covering threat detection, tracking and platform control.

Space domain awareness company providing satellite safety software and space surveillance data, including for space defence users.

Singularity platform provides jamming resilient hybrid networking and data sync across satellite, radio and mobile links for soldiers, drones and fires.

Vertically integrated producer of energetic materials, warheads and mines for European armed forces, led by former Estonian defence procurement chiefs.

Develops AI onboard data processing for satellites to cut downlink costs and enable autonomous space missions.

Maritime search and rescue company offering ZOE AI man overboard detection, the Swift recovery conveyor and the Guardian uncrewed rescue vessel.