Startup Rankings
Top Defence Startups in Europe 2026
Last updated · 20 companies · compiled from public data sources
The 20 companies listed here are the most established of the 158 European defence startups tracked in the fieldfaster dataset, with the largest clusters in Germany (22 companies), France (13) and the United Kingdom (12). Focus areas span ISR and sensing, uncrewed systems, space, autonomy and AI, counter-UAS and more.
Every entry is a short factual profile compiled from public sources: what the company builds, where it is based and when it was founded. The ranking favours established teams, ordering companies by team size band first and company age second. No funding figures are used.
- 1.
Tekever
Lisbon · founded 2001
Tekever builds the AR3 and AR5 unmanned aircraft used for maritime surveillance and battlefield ISR, with extensive operational service in Ukraine.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 2.
ICEYE
Espoo · founded 2014
ICEYE owns and operates the world's largest synthetic aperture radar constellation, supplying persistent imaging to governments including Ukraine's defence forces.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 3.
Quantum Systems
Gilching · founded 2015
Quantum Systems develops electric vertical take-off and landing reconnaissance drones, including the Vector and Trinity families used widely for military ISR in Ukraine and across NATO.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 4.
Helsing
Munich · founded 2021
Helsing builds AI-enabled software, electronic warfare capabilities and autonomous strike systems for European armed forces, and has grown into one of the continent's most valuable defence technology companies.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 5.
Creotech Instruments
Piaseczno · founded 2008
Creotech Instruments builds the HyperSat microsatellite platform and advanced electronics, leading Poland's national satellite programmes.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 6.
Robin Radar Systems
The Hague · founded 2010
TNO spin-off in The Hague making 3D radars for drone and bird detection, widely used for counter-UAS at military sites, airports and critical infrastructure. Scaled to over 200 employees.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 7.
D-Orbit
Como · founded 2011
D-Orbit provides in-space transportation with its ION orbital transfer vehicle and services across the space logistics value chain.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 8.
PLD Space
Elche · founded 2011
PLD Space develops the MIURA family of recoverable launch vehicles, giving Spain and Europe independent small-launch capability.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 9.
Turgis & Gaillard
Paris · founded 2011
Turgis & Gaillard is a French defence industrial group developing the Aarok MALE drone and manufacturing aerostructures and support systems.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 10.
Improbable
London · founded 2012
Improbable builds large-scale simulation and synthetic environment technology applied to defence wargaming and training.
simulation-trainingRead moreSources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 11.
Milrem Robotics
Tallinn · founded 2013
Milrem Robotics develops the THeMIS and Type-X unmanned ground vehicles fielded by more than a dozen countries.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 12.
Dedrone
Kassel · founded 2014
Dedrone provides airspace security software and sensors that detect, classify and mitigate unauthorized drones; the company was acquired by Axon in 2024.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 13.
NanoAvionics
Vilnius · founded 2014
NanoAvionics manufactures nanosatellite and microsatellite buses for commercial and government constellations; Kongsberg acquired a majority stake in 2022.
spaceRead moreSources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 14.
EnduroSat
Sofia · founded 2015
Sofia-based maker of software-defined nano and microsatellites with 80+ satellites in orbit, expanding into defence via a partnership with Shield Space for rapidly deployable counter-threat space missions for NATO customers.
spaceRead moreSources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 15.
MARSS
Monaco · founded 2015
MARSS develops NiDAR, an AI-powered command system that fuses sensors and effectors to protect critical infrastructure, vessels and borders from air and surface threats.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 16.
OVES Enterprise
Cluj-Napoca · founded 2015
Cluj-Napoca software company whose Nemesis AI platform powers military drones and is used in US Army-deployed EAGLS counter-drone systems; also developing the SkyLock interception system and INTERJET jet interceptor.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 17.
Preligens (Safran.AI)
Paris · founded 2016
Preligens develops AI for analyzing satellite imagery at scale for defence intelligence; it was acquired by Safran in 2024 and now operates as Safran.AI.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 18.
Aerospacelab
Louvain-la-Neuve · founded 2018
Aerospacelab vertically integrates satellite manufacturing and geospatial intelligence, operating one of Europe's largest smallsat factories.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 19.
Isar Aerospace
Ottobrunn · founded 2018
Isar Aerospace develops and operates the Spectrum launch vehicle, giving Europe sovereign access to orbit for small and medium satellites.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 20.
Rocket Factory Augsburg
Augsburg · founded 2018
Rocket Factory Augsburg develops the RFA ONE launch vehicle to deliver small satellites to orbit at low cost from European spaceports.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
Have we missed your startup?
Companies are ranked by team size band and company age, using short factual profiles compiled from public sources. No funding figures are used. If your European defence startup belongs on this list, tell us and we'll review it for the next update.