The top 10 defense tech startups in 2026 are Anduril Industries, Shield AI, Helsing, Castelion, Saronic Technologies, Quantum Systems, Hadrian, Tekever, CHAOS Industries and STARK. Together, their latest reported valuations add up to more than $150 billion. This list ranks them by valuation and gives the founders, CEO, headquarters, funding and website for each company.
Defense tech startups are venture-backed companies that build weapons, autonomous military systems, sensors or defense production capacity. In 2026 the sector moved from niche to mainstream. Seven of the ten companies below raised $1 billion or more in a single round this year.
How We Ranked the Top 10 Defense Tech Startups
We ranked privately held, defense-first companies by their most recently reported valuation as of November 10, 2026. Public companies such as Palantir were excluded, and so were companies whose main business is not defense. Every figure comes from a company announcement or a named publication, linked in each profile. Where a number was reported by media and not confirmed by the company, we say so. Where a detail is not public, we write that it is not publicly disclosed.
Top 10 Defense Tech Startups 2026 at a Glance
| Rank | Company | Country | Latest reported valuation | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anduril Industries | USA | $61 billion | Autonomous systems, AI command and control, munitions |
| 2 | Shield AI | USA | $28.8 billion | AI pilots and autonomous aircraft |
| 3 | Helsing | Germany | $18 billion | Defense AI software and strike drones |
| 4 | Castelion | USA | $13 billion (reported) | Hypersonic missiles |
| 5 | Saronic Technologies | USA | $9.25 billion | Autonomous warships |
| 6 | Quantum Systems | Germany | About $8 billion | Reconnaissance drones and multi-domain autonomy |
| 7 | Hadrian | USA | $7.87 billion | Automated defense manufacturing |
| 8 | Tekever | Portugal | About $6.4 billion to $6.8 billion (reported) | Surveillance and intelligence drones |
| 9 | CHAOS Industries | USA | $4.5 billion | Counter-drone radar and detection |
| 10 | STARK | Germany | 3.2 billion to more than 3.5 billion euros (reported) | Loitering munitions and uncrewed vessels |
1. Anduril Industries
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Costa Mesa, California, USA |
| Founders | Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm, Joe Chen, Brian Schimpf |
| CEO | Brian Schimpf |
| Latest round | $5 billion Series H, May 2026, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz |
| Valuation | $61 billion |
| Total funding | More than $11 billion |
| Category | Autonomous systems, AI command and control, munitions |
| Website | anduril.com |
About
Anduril Industries is the largest venture-backed defense tech startup in the world. The company builds autonomous aircraft, underwater vehicles, missiles and sensors, all connected by its Lattice AI software. According to TechCrunch, Anduril doubled revenue in 2025 to $2.2 billion and raised a $5 billion Series H in May 2026 that more than doubled its valuation to $61 billion.
Core Products
Lattice is the AI command and control platform that runs across every Anduril system. Fury, designated YFQ-44A, is its collaborative combat aircraft. Barracuda is a family of cruise missiles. Roadrunner is a reusable interceptor. Ghost Shark is an autonomous submarine.
Why It Matters
Anduril proved that a startup can fund its own weapons development and then win major programs. It is also building Arsenal-1, a large manufacturing campus near Columbus, Ohio. Source: TechCrunch, May 13, 2026.
2. Shield AI
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California, USA |
| Founders | Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter |
| CEO | Gary Steele |
| Latest round | $1 billion Series H, November 2026, co-led by Disruptive and Innovation X Capital |
| Valuation | $28.8 billion post-money |
| Total funding | Not stated in the company release |
| Category | AI pilots and autonomous aircraft |
| Website | shield.ai |
About
Shield AI builds AI pilots for military aircraft and drones. On November 5, 2026, the company announced a $1 billion Series H at a $28.8 billion post-money valuation, alongside $1 billion in structured equity from funds managed by Blackstone and $500 million in debt financing led by JPMorgan Chase. In the same release it agreed to acquire radar maker Echodyne in a transaction valued at $5.3 billion.
Core Products
Hivemind is the autonomy software that lets aircraft fly and make decisions without GPS or communications. V-BAT is a vertical takeoff drone already used by military customers. X-BAT is an AI-piloted vertical takeoff fighter jet in development.
Why It Matters
Its valuation rose from $12.7 billion in March 2026 to $28.8 billion in November 2026, the fastest climb on this list. The Echodyne deal adds radar sensing to its autonomy stack. Source: Shield AI press release, November 5, 2026.
3. Helsing
| Founded | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Munich, Germany |
| Founders | Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf, Niklas Köhler |
| CEO | Torsten Reil and Gundbert Scherf (co-CEOs) |
| Latest round | $1.8 billion Series E, July 2026 |
| Valuation | $18 billion |
| Total funding | Not publicly disclosed as a single figure |
| Category | Defense AI software and strike drones |
| Website | helsing.ai |
About
Helsing is the most valuable defense tech startup in Europe. The Munich company started with AI software for existing military platforms and now builds its own hardware. Its $1.8 billion Series E in July 2026 valued it at $18 billion, with Thrive Capital and Daniel Ek’s Prima Materia reported as lead investors. Daniel Ek also serves as chairman.
Core Products
HX-2 is an AI-enabled strike drone. Altra is battlefield software that connects sensors and effectors. SG-1 Fathom is an autonomous underwater glider. CA-1 is a proposed autonomous combat aircraft.
Why It Matters
Helsing gives European governments a home-grown alternative to American suppliers, with partnerships that include Saab, Rheinmetall and Kongsberg. Source: Europe Defence Tech ranking, October 22, 2026.
4. Castelion
| Founded | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Torrance, California, USA |
| Founders | Bryon Hargis, Sean Pitt, Andrew Kreitz |
| CEO | Bryon Hargis |
| Latest round | $1 billion Series C, August 2026, co-led by JPMorgan Chase Strategic Investment Group, Andreessen Horowitz and Carlyle funds |
| Valuation | $13 billion, as reported by Tech Funding News |
| Total funding | About $1.27 billion in equity |
| Category | Hypersonic missiles |
| Website | castelion.com |
About
Castelion was founded by former SpaceX executives to mass-produce low-cost hypersonic weapons. Its $1 billion Series C in August 2026 combined equity with a revolving credit facility. Tech Funding News reported the valuation at $13 billion.
Core Products
Blackbeard is its hypersonic missile, which the Pentagon has made a program of record with fielding targeted for 2027. The company is also developing a longer-range precision strike weapon and lower-cost air and missile defense systems.
Why It Matters
Castelion is building Project Ranger, a 1,000-acre production campus in Sandoval County, New Mexico, and has won more than $500 million in US military contracts over 18 months. Source: Tech Funding News, August 21, 2026.
Defense is only one of the sectors pulling in record venture capital this year. For the companies leading artificial intelligence, read our guide to the top AI startups of 2026. 👉 Discover more startup rankings at Startup Pill
5. Saronic Technologies
| Founded | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Founders | Dino Mavrookas, Rob Lehman, Vibhav Altekar, Doug Lambert |
| CEO | Dino Mavrookas |
| Latest round | $1.75 billion Series D, March 2026, led by Kleiner Perkins |
| Valuation | $9.25 billion |
| Total funding | About $2.6 billion |
| Category | Autonomous warships |
| Website | saronic.com |
About
Saronic builds autonomous surface vessels for the US Navy and allied forces. The company raised $1.75 billion in March 2026 at a $9.25 billion valuation, with Kleiner Perkins leading and investors including Advent International, Bessemer Venture Partners, 8VC and Andreessen Horowitz taking part.
Core Products
Its fleet runs from small craft such as Spyglass, Cutlass and Corsair up to Marauder, a 180-foot autonomous ship that the company completed in under six months.
Why It Matters
Saronic holds a $392 million production contract with the US Navy and is developing Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard, while expanding facilities in Louisiana and Texas. Source: SiliconANGLE, March 31, 2026.
6. Quantum Systems
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Gilching, near Munich, Germany |
| Founder | Florian Seibel |
| CEO | Florian Seibel and Sven Kruck (co-CEOs) |
| Latest round | $1.2 billion Series D, July 2026, co-led by Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus and Advent |
| Valuation | About $8 billion |
| Total funding | Not publicly disclosed as a single figure |
| Category | Reconnaissance drones and multi-domain autonomy |
| Website | quantum-systems.com |
About
Quantum Systems makes AI-enabled reconnaissance drones used by Ukraine and NATO militaries. Its $1.2 billion Series D in July 2026 lifted its valuation to about $8 billion, up from about 3 billion euros late in 2025. The Next Web reported revenue of about 300 million euros in 2025, roughly double the year before, and said the company is profitable.
Core Products
Vector is its tactical vertical takeoff reconnaissance drone. Trinity is a mapping drone. MOSAIC UXS is the software layer that links hardware, sensors and counter-drone tools across air, land and sea.
Why It Matters
It is one of the few defense tech startups on this list that reports being profitable, and Airbus joined its latest round as a strategic co-lead. Source: The Next Web, July 3, 2026.
7. Hadrian
| Founded | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Torrance, California, USA |
| Founder | Chris Power |
| CEO | Chris Power |
| Latest round | $1.37 billion Series D, August 2026 |
| Valuation | $7.87 billion |
| Total funding | Not publicly disclosed as a single figure |
| Category | Automated defense manufacturing |
| Website | hadrian.co |
About
Hadrian builds highly automated factories that produce parts and complete systems for defense and aerospace customers. Its $1.37 billion Series D in August 2026 was co-led by WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures and Baillie Gifford, with JPMorganChase’s Strategic Investment Group as anchor co-lead.
Core Products
Hadrian runs a Factories-as-a-Service model that pairs its Opus software platform with robotics and trained technicians. It serves munitions, shipbuilding and autonomous systems programs, and launched Hadrian Additive in February 2026.
Why It Matters
Every weapons maker on this list needs production capacity. Hadrian has nearly 3 million square feet of plant space across four locations, including Mesa, Arizona and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Source: 3D Printing Industry, August 19, 2026.
8. Tekever
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Founders | Pedro Sinogas, Ricardo Mendes, Vítor Cristina |
| CEO | Ricardo Mendes |
| Latest round | Series D of 520 million euros (about $580 million), first close September 2026, led by UC Investments with Baillie Gifford |
| Valuation | Reported between 5.5 billion and 5.7 billion euros (about $6.4 billion to $6.8 billion) |
| Total funding | Not publicly disclosed |
| Category | Surveillance and intelligence drones |
| Website | tekever.com |
About
Tekever is Portugal’s defense unicorn and the oldest company on this list. Founded by three graduates of Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon, it builds AI-driven unmanned aircraft for surveillance and intelligence. Its reported valuation rose from roughly $1.25 billion in May 2025 to between $6.4 billion and $6.8 billion with its 2026 Series D, depending on the report.
Core Products
AR3 and AR5 are its main unmanned aircraft platforms, used for maritime surveillance and battlefield intelligence. The company also develops AI data analysis software and microsatellites.
Why It Matters
Tekever operates across Portugal, the UK, France, Germany and Estonia, and the Danish state fund EIFO joined the second close of its Series D in November 2026. Source: Europe Defence Tech ranking, October 22, 2026.
9. CHAOS Industries
| Founded | 2022 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Founders | John Tenet, Bo Marr, Brett Cummings |
| CEO | John Tenet |
| Latest round | $510 million, November 2025, led by Valor Equity Partners |
| Valuation | $4.5 billion |
| Total funding | More than $1 billion |
| Category | Counter-drone radar and detection |
| Website | chaosinc.com |
About
CHAOS Industries builds radar and detection systems designed to find and track drones. It raised $510 million in November 2025 at a $4.5 billion valuation, four months after a $275 million Series C. Previous investors 8VC and Accel also took part.
Core Products
Vanquish is a radar that detects and tracks unmanned aerial systems. Astria is a radar for long-duration monitoring. Both run on its Coherent Distributed Networks technology.
Why It Matters
Cheap drones have changed warfare, and detection is the first step in stopping them. CHAOS raised more than $1 billion within about three years of its founding. Source: CHAOS Industries press release, November 13, 2025.
10. STARK
| Founded | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founders | Florian Seibel, Johannes Schaback, Uwe Horstmann |
| CEO | Uwe Horstmann |
| Latest round | 500 million euro Series C, June 2026, co-led by Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund |
| Valuation | Reported between 3.2 billion and more than 3.5 billion euros |
| Total funding | About 640 million to 660 million euros |
| Category | Loitering munitions and uncrewed vessels |
| Website | stark-defence.com |
About
STARK is the youngest company in this ranking. Founded in 2024, the Berlin startup builds strike drones and uncrewed vessels. Its 500 million euro Series C in June 2026 was co-led by Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund, with the NATO Innovation Fund among the other investors. Reports of its valuation differ, so we give the published range.
Core Products
Virtus is an electric vertical takeoff loitering munition. Vanta 6 and Vanta 12 are uncrewed surface vessels. Minerva is its command and control software.
Why It Matters
STARK reached a multibillion euro valuation about two years after it was founded, a sign of how quickly European defense procurement is changing. Source: Europe Defence Tech, STARK funding profile.
What the Top 10 Defense Tech Startups Tell Us About 2026
Here is the thing. Three patterns stand out. First, the money has moved from software to hardware and production. Castelion, Saronic and Hadrian each raised $1 billion or more to build missiles, ships and factories. Second, Europe now has four companies in the global top 10, all founded or scaled in Germany and Portugal. Third, valuations are rising fast. Shield AI more than doubled in eight months and Anduril doubled in under a year.
For a wider view of where venture capital went last month, see our October 2026 global startup funding roundup.
Key Takeaways
Anduril Industries leads the ranking at a $61 billion valuation. Shield AI is second at $28.8 billion after its November 2026 Series H. Helsing is the most valuable European defense startup at $18 billion. Six of the ten companies are American and four are European. Seven raised $1 billion or more in a single round during 2026. STARK, founded in 2024, is the youngest company on the list, and Tekever, founded in 2001, is the oldest.
New rankings, funding rounds and founder stories are published every week. 👉 Follow the latest startup news at Startup Pill
Frequently Asked Questions About Defense Tech Startups
What is the most valuable defense tech startup in the world in 2026?
Anduril Industries is the most valuable defense tech startup in 2026. It raised a $5 billion Series H in May 2026 at a $61 billion valuation, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Costa Mesa, California.
Which defense tech startups are leading in Europe?
Helsing of Munich leads Europe at an $18 billion valuation, followed by Quantum Systems at about $8 billion, Tekever of Lisbon at a reported $6.4 billion to $6.8 billion, and STARK of Berlin at a reported 3.2 billion to more than 3.5 billion euros.
Who founded Anduril Industries?
Anduril Industries was founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm, Joe Chen and Brian Schimpf. Brian Schimpf is the CEO.
How much is Shield AI worth?
Shield AI announced a $1 billion Series H at a $28.8 billion post-money valuation on November 5, 2026. In March 2026 it was valued at $12.7 billion. Gary Steele is the CEO.
Why are defense tech startups raising so much money?
Governments are increasing defense budgets and buying autonomous systems, drones and missiles faster than traditional suppliers can build them. Investors are funding startups that pay for their own development and can produce at scale, which is why seven companies on this list raised $1 billion or more in a single round in 2026.
How was this top 10 list ranked?
The list ranks privately held, defense-first companies by their most recently reported valuation as of November 10, 2026. Public companies and companies whose main business is not defense were excluded. Where a valuation was reported by media and not confirmed by the company, it is marked as reported.