Breaking — the capital moves defining 2026
Breaking — the capital moves defining 2026
Breaking — the capital moves defining 2026
US defence tech raised $14.6bn in 5 months
The previous full-year record was $9.6 billion, set last year. Here is where it went.
In this story
Where it went
Now put that next to Europe
The gap is the opportunity
US defence tech startups raised $14.6 billion in the first 5 months of 2026. The previous full-year record was $9.6 billion, set last year.
Where it went
Anduril Industries, $5 billion Series H. AI-powered military systems.
Shield AI, $2 billion Series G. Autonomous aviation.
Saronic Technologies, $1.75 billion Series D. Unmanned surface vessels.
Mach Industries, $300 million Series C at a $1.8 billion valuation. Autonomous drone systems.
Swarmer, AI drones, went public this year.
More are queued behind them. True Anomaly, Sierra Space, Vast and CHAOS Industries are all being discussed as IPO candidates.
Now put that next to Europe
Europe raised a record $1.5 billion for defence tech last year. Anduril Industries raised more than 3 times that in a single round.
Same alliance. Same threat environment. Same technology. 2 completely different capital markets.
The gap is the opportunity
If you are a European defence company, that gap is both the problem and the opportunity. The money exists. It just does not live on your continent, and almost nobody is set up to go and get it.
Funding Rounds
Drones & UAVs
Written by
Dimeet Singh
Dimeet heads the firm's UAE and Gulf practice, working with family offices, private equity and institutional lenders deploying capital across borders.
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