European Defense
European Defense
EU rearmament, European drone procurement, and NATO coverage.
About European Defense
Europe is paying for drones made in Ukraine. The European Commission paid Ukraine €1.24 billion on 7 October for drones, interceptors, drone ammunition and missiles made by Ukrainian companies.
Governments are also signing with European start-ups. The Bundeswehr signed purchase contracts with Helsing and Stark for loitering munitions on 26 February. On 16 September the UK Ministry of Defence awarded Tekever, of Portugal, a contract worth up to £400 million to replace the British Army's Watchkeeper drones.
France plans to raise its stocks of explosive drones by up to 400% by 2030, under a military programming law that adds €36 billion to defence spending. Polish army units are building their own: they have signed 3.56 million złoty of contracts since October 2025 for 3D printers, tools and parts, by FlightBrief's count.
Drones are also reaching Europe's airports. Germany's interior minister said on 1 September that Russia was responsible for the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport on 4 August. Unidentified drones closed Luxembourg's airport on 18 and 21 September.
Coverage
France Seeks a Builder for Its SMOKERS Explosive Drone Boats
The DGA designed the boat itself and wants about 10 a year in peacetime, with capacity for 50. The tender gives no contract value.
German AI Firm Helsing Pitches Cheap Interceptor Missiles
No order for the two interceptors has been announced. Germany bought Helsing's HX-2 drone on contracts it can cancel at set milestones.
Polish Army Units Buy 3D Printers to Build Their Own Drones
One 3D-printer dealer in Pomerania won 69% of the 3.56 million złoty signed so far. More than a third of the parts tendered ended with no contract.
Helsing Joins Funding Round of Missile Maker Destinus
Neither company gave a figure. Bloomberg's sources put Destinus at about €6 billion, above the €5 billion it sought in May.
Airbus Flies Its U740 Valkyrie Combat Drone in Europe
The airframe is Kratos's; Airbus supplies the mission system it says keeps control in Europe. No order is public, and the target is 2029.
Red Cat Offers €39 a Share for Engine Maker Steyr Motors
The drone company wants the Austrian firm's marine engines for its drone boats. Steyr's anchor holder has agreed to sell, but half the shares are needed.
Bundestag Clears Net-Firing Drones to Guard German Bases
The defence ministry named no maker, quantity or price. A German firm says its net drone already serves the Bundeswehr and the federal police.
EU Adds €130M for Drones and Counter-Drone Gear at Borders
The money goes to border authorities in 16 member states and Norway from a home-affairs fund, not the defence budget. No country amounts were published.
France Awards €34M Counter-Drone Framework for Its Prisons
Two winners, four years, offers worth €12.5 million. The prison service counted about 5,000 drone flights or attempts in 2025, up from 868.
Lithuania Gets First Switchblade 600s, Nearly Four Years On
The €45 million order dates from December 2022. The ministry gives no count; launchers, a simulator and maintenance come with the drones.
Denmark Registers Four Saildrone Drone Boats Under Its Flag
No binding international safety code covers crewless vessels before 2032, so Denmark's maritime authority and the company set the terms together.
Poland Seeks Interceptor Drones That Can Hit Helicopters
Makers have until 15 October to offer a 20 km interceptor flying 340 km/h or more, or a 4 kg one a soldier can carry.
EU Pays €1.24B for Ukrainian-Made Drones and Interceptors
It is the fifth defence payment from the €90 billion loan, and €15.4 billion of this year's defence money is still unpaid.
Exail Books €87m Loss After Thales Deal Prompts Restatement
Sales and EBITDA grew. The loss comes from obligations to investor ICG and to staff, signed in 2022, that the old accounts left out or understated.
Tekever Raises $580m a Week After Winning UK Army Drone Deal
The Army deal came by direct award after none of eight bids was suitable. Investigators are still finishing a report on an AR5 crash.
Unidentified Drones Shut Luxembourg Airport Twice in a Week
Officials say some were fixed-wing and up to two metres across. None has been caught, and police say they lack the legal power to bring one down.
Five Loitering Munitions Face EU Field Trials in Portugal
The prize is €1.8 million and no one commits to buying the winner, which the European Defence Agency names only in 2027.
Greece Buys €26M of Rafael Drone Dome With Achilles Shield
The counter-drone systems sit in a side deal to Greece's €3 billion air-defence package, and Israel has not said which sites they will guard.
Wingcopter Launches 262 Recon Drone and Moves Into Defence
The German delivery drone maker unveiled a 10 kg tactical reconnaissance aircraft, a defence unit, and a production deal with Ukraine's TAF Industries.
Ukraine's Ai-Petri Jammer Makes Its Export Debut in Poland
The Ai-Petri electronic warfare system, in Ukrainian service since 2024, was shown abroad for the first time at MSPO 2026 in Kielce.
Companies
Helsing
Munich defence company building AI software, the HX-2 strike drone, the SG-1 Fathom underwater glider and the CA-1 Europa uncrewed combat jet.
Germany
Quantum Systems
German maker of VTOL reconnaissance drones and autonomy software for European and US defense customers, with large-scale deployment in Ukraine.
Germany
Rheinmetall
German defense and automotive group producing armored vehicles, ammunition, air defense systems, and military drone platforms.
Germany
Destinus
Netherlands-headquartered defence manufacturer producing cruise missiles, interceptor drones and turbojet engines, leading the Bliksem EXO consortium.
Netherlands
STARK
Berlin defense company building loitering munitions, uncrewed surface vessels and command software, supplying the Bundeswehr under a 2026 framework.
Germany
Baykar
Turkish defense company behind the Bayraktar TB2, the most widely exported armed drone of the past decade, now also the owner of Italy's Piaggio Aerospace.
Turkey
Elbit Systems
Israeli listed defense electronics company producing UAVs, electro-optics, electronic warfare, precision munitions and C4I systems worldwide.
Israel
Frontline Robotics
Ukrainian defense robotics company making the Zoom reconnaissance drone, the Linza bomber and logistics drone, and the Buria remote weapon module.
Ukraine
Funding
Series D
UC Investments, Baillie Gifford, Merlyn Advisors, Crescent Cove, Ventura Capital, Iberis Capital
TekeverGrowth
Dragoneer Investment Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Disruptive, Iconiq, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, JPMorganChase, CPP Investments, General Catalyst, Plural, StepStone
HelsingSeries D
Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus, Advent, BOND, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Wellington Management, A.P. Moller Holding, Elephant Lake Ventures, Balderton, HV Capital
Quantum SystemsUndisclosed
Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, NATO Innovation Fund, Project A, Air Street Capital, 201 Ventures, Advent, Döpfner Capital
STARKSeed
Rainfall Ventures, ACME Capital, Skyfall Ventures, Sisyphus Ventures, Antler, Startuplab, Off Piste, Andøya Ventures
StendrContracts
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV)
Saildrone
A year-long maritime surveillance service for the Swedish Navy in the Baltic Sea: four Saildrone…
U.S. Special Operations Command
Tekever
Purchase of Tekever drone systems after validation and acceptance testing; the number, model and…
U.S. Army
L3Harris
Three-year contract from the Army's DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center to develop a long-range…
U.S. Coast Guard
Shield AI
Order 70Z02326F93130011 to add sensors to current and future V-BAT operations, running to 30…
U.S. Army
Wescam USA (L3Harris)
Ceiling of a three-year IDIQ for commercial counter-drone capabilities under JIATF-401's Domestic…