European Defense
European Defense
EU rearmament, European drone procurement, and NATO coverage.
Latest Coverage
Rotron Aerospace SkyLance Loitering Munition Passes First Tests
Rotron Aerospace completes demonstration tests of SkyLance, a low-cost long-range loitering munition, days after US firm Ondas acquires the British drone maker.
Destinus Eyes Amsterdam IPO After €200M Raise at €5B Valuation
Dutch defense startup Destinus is raising €200 million ahead of a potential Amsterdam IPO, targeting a €5 billion valuation on expected annual revenue of €500 million.
How Europe Is Integrating AI Into Its Military Forces in 2026
Germany, France, and the UK are leading European AI military integration, from Helsing loitering munitions to Palantir partnerships, with Ukraine as the live test environment.
Safran and Baykar Sign Deal to Put French Sensors on TB2 Drones
Safran will integrate its Euroflir optronic systems and navigation tech into Baykar's TB2, replacing the Canadian L3Harris Wescam MX-15 in a deal with clear geopolitical dimensions.
Ukrainian Drone Teams Demolished NATO Forces in Sweden's Aurora 2026
A team of fewer than 20 Ukrainian FPV pilots repeatedly shut down Aurora 2026, destroying 28 of 32 vehicles in one engagement and wiping a defended airfield in under 20 minutes.
Bundeswehr Tests AI Drone Swarms with STARK Munitions
Germany's Bundeswehr tested AI-enabled recce-strike drone swarms with STARK's Virtus munition and Minerva C2 software.
Rheinmetall's €2.4B Drone Contract Can't Stop Stock Slide
Rheinmetall wins a €2.4B loitering munition contract for Germany but shares hit a 52-week low on valuation concerns.
Ukraine's Drone Deal: Exporting Battle-Tested Weapons
Ukraine is launching a structured arms export program selling combat-proven drones and electronic warfare systems to allies.
Arcanus Aerial Licenses Beyond Vision UAVs for Canada
Arcanus Aerial signed a production licence with Portugal's Beyond Vision to manufacture UAVs in Canada for NATO customers.
Saab CEO: Europe Should Buy 70% of Defence From Europe
ASD chair Micael Johansson calls for 70% European sourcing in defence procurement and demand coalitions for consolidation.
EU and Ukraine Launch €100M BraveTech Weapons Program
The EU and Ukraine's Brave1 platform launched BraveTech EU, a €100M initiative to fast-track combat-tested weapons.
Stendr Raises $5.4M Pre-Seed for Nordic Counter-Drone AI
Norwegian startup Stendr raised $5.4M in pre-seed funding to build an AI-native defense platform targeting Europe's drone detection and response gap.
Volatus Aerospace Wins CAD $2.1M NATO Training Contract
Volatus Aerospace won a CAD $2.1M contract to deliver drone training for security forces at a NATO-allied ministry.
EU Commits €1.07B to Drone and C-UAS Defence Projects
The EU approved €1.07B for 57 defence projects under the European Defence Fund, with major funding for drones and C-UAS.
Netherlands Commits €248M to Drone Production for Ukraine
The Netherlands will fund €248M in drone production for Ukraine, covering Dutch-made and Ukrainian-made UAVs.
Germany Approves €2.4B Drone Deal for NATO's Eastern Flank
Bundestag approves €2.4B drone package, with Rheinmetall receiving €298M to supply AI-enabled combat drones for the Lithuanian Brigade.
Europe's Drone Production Gap: How the EU Plans to Close It
France, Germany, and Poland are spending billions on military drones as the EU produces less than 30% of its own needs.
Germany Commits €4B to Ukraine: Patriots, IRIS-T, Drones
Germany's €4B defense package for Ukraine covers Patriot missiles, 36 IRIS-T launchers, €300M in long-range weapons, and 5,000 AI-guided strike drones.
Royal Netherlands Navy Declares Shield AI V-BAT Operational
The Royal Netherlands Navy has fielded 12 Shield AI V-BAT drones across 8 vessels after testing aboard HNLMS Johan de Witt off northern Norway.
Serbia and Elbit Systems to Build Combat Drone Plant
Serbia's Yugoimport and Elbit Systems will open a joint drone manufacturing facility, with the Israeli firm holding a 51% stake in the venture.
Companies
Rheinmetall
German defense and automotive group producing armored vehicles, ammunition, air defense systems, and military drone platforms.
DE
Baykar
Turkish defense company behind the Bayraktar TB2, the most widely exported armed drone of the past decade, now also the owner of Italy's Piaggio Aerospace.
TR
Elbit Systems
Israeli publicly traded defense electronics company producing UAVs, electro-optics, electronic warfare systems, precision munitions, and C4I solutions for military customers worldwide.
IL
Leonardo
Italian state-controlled defense group producing helicopters, aircraft, electronics, and unmanned systems for military and civil customers.
IT
Quantum Systems
German maker of VTOL and fixed-wing reconnaissance drones for defense and government customers, with platforms deployed in Ukraine.
DE
Thales
French defense and technology group producing avionics, radar, electronic warfare, satellite systems, and counter-drone solutions.
FR
Arcanus Aerial Systems
Canadian UAV manufacturer scaling sovereign drone production for defence and government markets, with a Series A upsized to $25 million.
CA
Beyond Vision
Portuguese UAV manufacturer focused on military and dual-use drone platforms for naval, defense, and allied government customers.
PT
Recent Funding
Recent Contracts
defense
German Armed Forces, Rheinmetall
Framework agreement under the FV-014 programme for loitering munitions with an initial call-off of...
defense
U.S. Navy, Shield AI
Contractor-owned, contractor-operated ISR services contract pool allowing Shield AI to compete for...
defense
NATO-allied government ministry, Volatus Aerospace
Multi-year contract to design and deliver advanced drone training programs for security and law...
defense
U.S. Coast Guard, Shield AI
Delivery order for shore-based V-BAT contractor-owned, contractor-operated surveillance drone...