New and recently funded Military Startups
1
Country: USA | Funding: $31.6M
Grid Aero develops and manufactures autonomous cargo drones for long-range flights. Its Lifter aircraft is capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cargo over thousands of kilometers. Combining ultra-simple and low-cost designs with advanced autonomous systems, it can reliably operate in remote or hostile environments, where infrastructure is limited or military operations are taking place. Furthermore, the loss of such a drone does not incur significant losses. Grid's autonomous control system combines classic control systems with modern AI, enabling aircraft to operate intelligently over long distances. It learns from other aircraft in the Grid network and minimizes the need for human oversight. Lifter aircraft operate as a fault-tolerant distributed network. With seamless fleet-wide control, a small ground team can manage dozens of aircraft over vast regions.
Grid Aero develops and manufactures autonomous cargo drones for long-range flights. Its Lifter aircraft is capable of carrying thousands of kilograms of cargo over thousands of kilometers. Combining ultra-simple and low-cost designs with advanced autonomous systems, it can reliably operate in remote or hostile environments, where infrastructure is limited or military operations are taking place. Furthermore, the loss of such a drone does not incur significant losses. Grid's autonomous control system combines classic control systems with modern AI, enabling aircraft to operate intelligently over long distances. It learns from other aircraft in the Grid network and minimizes the need for human oversight. Lifter aircraft operate as a fault-tolerant distributed network. With seamless fleet-wide control, a small ground team can manage dozens of aircraft over vast regions.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $116K
Skyline Nav AI develops Pathfinder software and APIs for geo-positioning in military missions. Skyline uses AI to quickly recognize terrain, combining data from the camera, IMU (inertial measurement unit) and GPS (if available). The system dynamically switches between GPS, camera and IMU-based navigation using a robust confidence metric, ensuring optimal performance regardless of terrain or feature availability. Pathfinder operates reliably in all weather and lighting conditions, including low-light or challenging visual conditions, thanks to the use of night vision cameras. The system architecture is compatible with a wide range of industry-leading hardware architectures, including CPUs (ARM, x86, Apple M-Series) and GPUs (NVIDIA CUDA, AMD ROCm, Intel GPU). The system is used by the US military.
Skyline Nav AI develops Pathfinder software and APIs for geo-positioning in military missions. Skyline uses AI to quickly recognize terrain, combining data from the camera, IMU (inertial measurement unit) and GPS (if available). The system dynamically switches between GPS, camera and IMU-based navigation using a robust confidence metric, ensuring optimal performance regardless of terrain or feature availability. Pathfinder operates reliably in all weather and lighting conditions, including low-light or challenging visual conditions, thanks to the use of night vision cameras. The system architecture is compatible with a wide range of industry-leading hardware architectures, including CPUs (ARM, x86, Apple M-Series) and GPUs (NVIDIA CUDA, AMD ROCm, Intel GPU). The system is used by the US military.
3
Country: Nigeria | Funding: $11.8M
Terra Industries aims to create a sovereign African defense system to protect critical infrastructure from armed attacks from land, sea and air. For aerial defence the company produces long- and short-range unmanned aerial vehicles. On the ground, it uses observation towers and small ground drones. The company continues to develop maritime technologies to protect infrastructure such as offshore drilling platforms and subsea pipelines. Terra uses its proprietary ArtemisOS software, which collects, analyzes and synthesizes data in real time. Upon detection of threats, the system alerts response forces so they can intercept them. The company holds government and commercial contracts and protects hydroelectric plants and mines.
Terra Industries aims to create a sovereign African defense system to protect critical infrastructure from armed attacks from land, sea and air. For aerial defence the company produces long- and short-range unmanned aerial vehicles. On the ground, it uses observation towers and small ground drones. The company continues to develop maritime technologies to protect infrastructure such as offshore drilling platforms and subsea pipelines. Terra uses its proprietary ArtemisOS software, which collects, analyzes and synthesizes data in real time. Upon detection of threats, the system alerts response forces so they can intercept them. The company holds government and commercial contracts and protects hydroelectric plants and mines.
4
Country: France | Funding: $242M
Harmattan AI develops software for autonomous drone control and calls itself "the European equivalent of Anduril." It produces its own autonomous small aerial drones for operator training, battlefield reconnaissance and situational awareness (using synthetic aperture radar) and rapid interception of enemy 1-2 wing UAVs. The company has a contract with Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jet, to develop an AI autopilot and a contract with NATO to supply small AI-enabled drones. It also collaborates with the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton to test the drones in combat conditions.
Harmattan AI develops software for autonomous drone control and calls itself "the European equivalent of Anduril." It produces its own autonomous small aerial drones for operator training, battlefield reconnaissance and situational awareness (using synthetic aperture radar) and rapid interception of enemy 1-2 wing UAVs. The company has a contract with Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale fighter jet, to develop an AI autopilot and a contract with NATO to supply small AI-enabled drones. It also collaborates with the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton to test the drones in combat conditions.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $1.3B
Shield AI is developing X-BAT - large, AI-controlled vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet, as well as the Hivemind - intelligent platform for military applications. X-BAT has a 12-meter wingspan, a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles, and a 4G maneuvering load factor. It can carry combat missiles and take off and land from ships, remote islands or rugged forward bases, eliminating dependence on traditional infrastructure. Its AI autopilot can operate in conditions of GPS and communications interference. The company is collaborating with the US Department of Defense to develop next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Its Vidar multi-camera system, with day and night vision cameras and sensors, is installed on reconnaissance drones for edge video analytics and mapping. The company is also developing Tracker C-UAS, an intelligent software solution for the early detection of drones in air defense systems using video from electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Shield AI is developing X-BAT - large, AI-controlled vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet, as well as the Hivemind - intelligent platform for military applications. X-BAT has a 12-meter wingspan, a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles, and a 4G maneuvering load factor. It can carry combat missiles and take off and land from ships, remote islands or rugged forward bases, eliminating dependence on traditional infrastructure. Its AI autopilot can operate in conditions of GPS and communications interference. The company is collaborating with the US Department of Defense to develop next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Its Vidar multi-camera system, with day and night vision cameras and sensors, is installed on reconnaissance drones for edge video analytics and mapping. The company is also developing Tracker C-UAS, an intelligent software solution for the early detection of drones in air defense systems using video from electro-optical and infrared sensors.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $7.5M
Skylark creates AI for physical applications, aiming to create a superintelligence that can learn and act in the real world. The company is developing the KEPLER edge platform for collecting data from optical, thermal, radar and unmanned sensors and rapidly recognizing threats, providing improved situational awareness for military operations. Its second platform, TURING, is designed for intelligence agencies. It can analyze data from linguistic and visual sources to recognize information threats. Skylark also produces compact industrial computing units for edge computing and solar-powered, trailer-mounted Scout AI towers for real-time surveillance using multiple sensors. They integrate LiDAR, radar, audio, thermal, visible light sensors with on-device adaptive artificial intelligence and provide real-time perimeter monitoring, threat detection and autonomous alerting.
Skylark creates AI for physical applications, aiming to create a superintelligence that can learn and act in the real world. The company is developing the KEPLER edge platform for collecting data from optical, thermal, radar and unmanned sensors and rapidly recognizing threats, providing improved situational awareness for military operations. Its second platform, TURING, is designed for intelligence agencies. It can analyze data from linguistic and visual sources to recognize information threats. Skylark also produces compact industrial computing units for edge computing and solar-powered, trailer-mounted Scout AI towers for real-time surveillance using multiple sensors. They integrate LiDAR, radar, audio, thermal, visible light sensors with on-device adaptive artificial intelligence and provide real-time perimeter monitoring, threat detection and autonomous alerting.
7
Country: UK | Funding: $20M
Skyral develops reality simulation software for national security and defense that is used for planning, testing strategies, training and conducting operations in real time. For example, the system can simulate damage to national communications networks, hacking/failure of infrastructure systems and vehicle traffic during panic situations. The company has a contract with the Royal Navy to develop the Maritime Operational Domain Decision Support Tool (OpDST) and is co-creating the Myridian program with modeling and simulation experts from universities across the country.
Skyral develops reality simulation software for national security and defense that is used for planning, testing strategies, training and conducting operations in real time. For example, the system can simulate damage to national communications networks, hacking/failure of infrastructure systems and vehicle traffic during panic situations. The company has a contract with the Royal Navy to develop the Maritime Operational Domain Decision Support Tool (OpDST) and is co-creating the Myridian program with modeling and simulation experts from universities across the country.
8
Country: Ukraine
DevDroid specializes in creating robotic combat systems that utilizes AI-powered weapons, droids, and UGV for military applications.
DevDroid specializes in creating robotic combat systems that utilizes AI-powered weapons, droids, and UGV for military applications.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $7.2M
Obviant is a data intelligence platform to simplify defense acquisition & GTM.
Obviant is a data intelligence platform to simplify defense acquisition & GTM.
10
Country: Germany
Circus Defence develops modular, AI-driven autonomous infrastructure systems for mission-critical and defence applications, leveraging Circus’ proven robotics technologies to enhance operational efficiency and readiness across European Defence operations. Circus’s core product is the autonomous CA-1 nutrition system and the CircusOS operating system, which runs the company’s robotic kitchens. It's AI-based “smart wagon” can prepare and serve food without any human involvement.
Circus Defence develops modular, AI-driven autonomous infrastructure systems for mission-critical and defence applications, leveraging Circus’ proven robotics technologies to enhance operational efficiency and readiness across European Defence operations. Circus’s core product is the autonomous CA-1 nutrition system and the CircusOS operating system, which runs the company’s robotic kitchens. It's AI-based “smart wagon” can prepare and serve food without any human involvement.
