Startup Rankings
Top Defence Startups in France 2026
Last updated · 13 companies · compiled from public data sources
France hosts 13 of the defence startups tracked in the fieldfaster dataset, with teams in Paris, Toulouse, Rennes and beyond. Focus areas include space, ISR and sensing, autonomy and AI.
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.
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)
- 2.
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)
- 3.
Delair
Toulouse · founded 2011
Delair manufactures long-range fixed-wing drones for surveillance and, more recently, loitering munitions supplied to Ukraine and the French forces.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 4.
Cailabs
Rennes · founded 2013
Cailabs builds light-shaping photonics and optical ground stations for laser communications, including secure satellite links for defence users.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 5.
Exotrail
Massy · founded 2015
Exotrail provides electric propulsion systems and orbital transfer services that give satellites in-space mobility.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 6.
Unseenlabs
Rennes · founded 2015
Unseenlabs operates a constellation of radio-frequency sensing satellites that geolocate vessels at sea, serving maritime domain awareness missions.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 7.
U-Space
Toulouse · founded 2018
U-Space designs and manufactures nanosatellites and constellations for institutional and defence missions in France.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 8.
Latitude
Reims · founded 2019
Latitude develops Zephyr, a dedicated launcher for small satellites, expanding sovereign European launch capacity.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 9.
EOS Technologie
Merignac · founded 2013
EOS Technologie designs jet-powered drones for target simulation, reconnaissance and strike, produced in France.
uasRead moreSources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 10.
ThrustMe
Verrieres-le-Buisson · founded 2017
ThrustMe builds iodine-fueled electric propulsion systems that make small satellite constellations maneuverable and sustainable.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 11.
Look Up Space
Toulouse · founded 2022
Look Up Space builds sovereign radar systems and software for continuous surveillance of objects in low Earth orbit.
Sources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 12.
Comand AI
Paris · founded 2023
Comand AI builds AI software that accelerates military targeting and command workflows for Western armed forces.
autonomy-aiRead moreSources: fieldfaster curated dataset (public sources)
- 13.
Harmattan AI
Paris · founded 2023
Harmattan AI develops low-cost AI-guided interceptors and effectors to counter hostile drones for European forces.
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.