Top Defense companies

Shield AI develops autonomous AI pilots (Hivemind) for drones and fighter jets, enabling GPS- and communications-denied operations.

Autonomous Systems & Software-Defined Primes · Series G $1.5B

Autonomous Systems & Software-Defined Primes

Series G

$1.5B

HQ

Helsing builds AI-driven software for defense decision-making, sensor fusion, and autonomous systems for European and NATO militaries.

Software & AI Platforms · Series D $694M

Software & AI Platforms

Series D

$694M

HQ

Applied Intuition provides simulation, autonomy, and ADAS software tooling for automotive OEMs and increasingly defense autonomy programs.

Software & AI Platforms · Series F $600M

Software & AI Platforms

Series F

$600M

HQ

Archer Aviation manufactures electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility and defense logistics.

Hypersonics & Advanced Air Mobility · IPO $1.1B

Hypersonics & Advanced Air Mobility

IPO

$1.1B

HQ

True Anomaly develops autonomous spacecraft for space domain awareness, orbital pursuit, and defense against hostile satellites.

Space & ISR · Series D $650M

Space & ISR

Series D

$650M

HQ

Chaos Industries builds networked radar and sensing systems for airspace defense — its Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN) tie together many low-cost nodes to detect drones, missiles, and aircraft far earlier than legacy radar. It raised a $510M Series D in November 2025 at a reported $4.5B valuation.

Counter-UAS & Directed Energy · Series D $510M

Counter-UAS & Directed Energy

Series D

$510M

HQ

Skydio designs and manufactures autonomous drones with computer vision and AI for defense, public safety, and enterprise inspection.

Drones & Loitering Munitions · Series F $110M

Drones & Loitering Munitions

Series F

$110M

HQ

Flock Safety deploys AI-powered cameras and license plate readers for public safety, with applications in critical infrastructure and base security.

Dual-Use Infrastructure · Series F $275M

Dual-Use Infrastructure

Series F

$275M

HQ

Epirus develops high-power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons for drone defense and electronic warfare using solid-state, software-defined RF systems.

Counter-UAS & Directed Energy · Series D $250M

Counter-UAS & Directed Energy

Series D

$250M

HQ

Apex Space manufactures satellite buses at scale for commercial and defense customers, enabling rapid on-orbit deployment.

Space & ISR · Series D $200M

Space & ISR

Series D

$200M

HQ

Mach Industries manufactures hydrogen-based defense products including munitions, fuel, and propulsion using renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Propulsion & Manufacturing · Series C $300M

Propulsion & Manufacturing

Series C

$300M

HQ

Hadrian automates precision manufacturing for aerospace and defense components using software-controlled machine shops and AI-driven workflows.

Propulsion & Manufacturing · Series C $260M

Propulsion & Manufacturing

Series C

$260M

HQ

Hermeus is developing Mach 5+ hypersonic aircraft for defense and commercial applications using turbine-based combined cycle engines.

Hypersonics & Advanced Air Mobility · Series C $350M

Hypersonics & Advanced Air Mobility

Series C

$350M

HQ

Castelion manufactures defense products at scale using advanced manufacturing, focusing on munitions, propulsion, and attritable systems.

Propulsion & Manufacturing · Series B $350M

Propulsion & Manufacturing

Series B

$350M

HQ

Varda Space builds reentry capsules for in-space manufacturing and returning payloads from orbit to Earth.

Space & ISR · Series C $187M

Space & ISR

Series C

$187M

HQ

Ursa Major designs and manufactures rocket engines and hypersonic propulsion systems for defense, commercial space, and missile applications.

Propulsion & Manufacturing · Series E $100M

Propulsion & Manufacturing

Series E

$100M

HQ

Rebellion Defense delivers AI-powered software for military intelligence, targeting, and decision support in multi-domain operations.

Software & AI Platforms · Series B $150M

Software & AI Platforms

Series B

$150M

HQ

Shift5 provides cybersecurity and data analytics for operational technology (OT) in military aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles.

Software & AI Platforms · Series C $75M

Software & AI Platforms

Series C

$75M

HQ

Orca AI develops AI-powered navigation and collision avoidance systems for commercial and defense maritime vessels.

Maritime & Undersea Systems · Series B $72.5M

Maritime & Undersea Systems

Series B

$72.5M

HQ

Red 6 creates augmented reality training systems for fighter pilots, projecting synthetic threats into real-world flight using AR headsets.

Training & Simulation · Series B $70M

Training & Simulation

Series B

$70M

HQ

Vannevar Labs builds AI-powered data integration and search tools for intelligence analysts and defense operators across classified networks.

Software & AI Platforms · Series B $75M

Software & AI Platforms

Series B

$75M

HQ

Regent designs and builds electric seagliders—wing-in-ground-effect vehicles—for coastal transportation and defense logistics.

Maritime & Undersea Systems · Series A $60M

Maritime & Undersea Systems

Series A

$60M

HQ