Top 51 Military Air Drone startups

Updated: Jan 14, 2026
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These companies develop small-to-medium drones that are used to enhance situational reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting for armed forces locally. See also the list of startups, creating tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
1
Vector
Country: USA | Funding: $61M
Rapidly equipping warfighters with cutting-edge technology and battlefield-proven insights as-a-service—because speed and tech relevance matter now more than ever.
2
Stark Drones
Country: USA | Funding: $15.5M
Experimental technologies that efficiently updates or replaces current grid, wireless transmission, and energy systems that we use today.
3
Harmattan AI
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.
4
Terra Industries
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.
5
AeroVironment
Country: USA | Funding: $1.7B
AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports a portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems supplied to organizations and defense.
6
Skydio
Country: USA | Funding: $740M
Skydio has Army contract to create drones for its Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program.
7
Teledyne FLIR
Country: USA
Teledyne FLIR develops unmanned aerial systems (including Black Hornet), unmanned ground vehicles, military surveillance systems
8
Raphe
Country: India | Funding: $145M
Raphe has designed and manufacturing comprehensive Ultra Light Carbon Fiber Composites. Its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio enhances aircraft efficiency
9
Firestorm
Country: USA | Funding: $79.5M
Developing Low-Cost, Modular Unmanned Systems. Designed For Warfighters. Future-Proofed For Tomorrow.
10
Destinus
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $58.2M
Destinus is a transportation technology company building near-space vehicles and the infrastructure to power the transportation network.
11
Fortem Technologies
Country: USA | Funding: $49.7M
Fortem Technologies develops radar systems for detecting airborne objects and counter UAV systems for commercial and military applications. Its DroneHunter is an autonomous perimeter detection (and protection) solution, designed to detect, classify, and secure against rogue drones. On detecting an intruder drone, it uses its AI-directed detection, tracking, and guidance for remediating the air threat at a standoff distance, with no collateral damage.
12
IdeaForge
Country: India | Funding: $45.7M
IdeaForge specializes in creating compact, cost-effective, and user-friendly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for defense
13
Neros
Country: USA | Funding: $44.5M
Neros Technologies develops AI-enabled scalable FPV drone system
14
Preneu
Country: South Korea | Funding: ₩33B
Preneu develops Drones, VTOL Fixed Wing UAV, UAV Surveillance, Aerial Mapping
15
Bone AI
Country: South Korea | Funding: $12M
Bone AI specializes in creating autonomous military robotics based on proprietary AI systems. It is developing a unified platform that integrates software, hardware, manufacturing (in Korea) and a supply chain in the US, Europe and other allied countries. The company develops next-generation autonomous aerial (UAV), ground (UGV) and maritime (USV) vehicles for defense and government customers. Its initial focus is on aerial drones for logistics and counter-drone defense. The company is engaged in research of advanced AI simulations, autonomy algorithms, embedded engineering, hardware design and physical AI.
16
Skyborne Technologies
Country: Australia
Skyborne develops smart aerial robotics to give our customers cutting-edge capability
17
Origin
Country: Latvia | Funding: €8.5M
Defense technology company that specializes in advanced autonomous drones. It develops man-portable drone-launched precision-guided weapon system
18
Trypillian
Country: Ukraine | Funding: $5M
Trypillian is a defense technology startup, develops combat technologies proven in real-world warfare, including deep strike systems.
19
Unmanned Defense Systems
Country: Lithuania | Funding: €4.2M
Unmanned Defense Systems researches, develops, designs, and manufactures tactical military UAV systems.
20
Krattworks
Country: Estonia | Funding: €1.8M
KrattWorks offers EW resilient reconnaissance and strike drones
Bruce Makowsky
Editor: Bruce Makowsky
Bruce Makowsky has covered military, cyber and IT news since 2009, with a focus on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, acquisition programs and budgets. In particular he worked for Inside Defense. Bruce holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University. Bruce is also an award-winning photographer, renowned for his captivating images that have earned him numerous accolades and widespread recognition in the photography community. You can contact Bruce at makowsky(at)militarystartups(dot)com