Key takeaways
- Top pick: Anduril Industries, best for: Defense ministries buying autonomous systems at scale.
- Also near the top: Shield AI, best for: Militaries adding autonomy to aircraft and drones; and Helsing, best for: European defence ministries and armed forces.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Defense Tech Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Anduril Industries ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.3.
Anduril leads globally, with the largest funding of any defense startup and products across drones, counter-drone systems and its Lattice software.
Shield AI is the most proven in autonomy software for aircraft,
Helsing is Europe's largest defense startup, and Saronic leads in autonomous surface vessels for navies.
Best Defense Tech Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  Anduril IndustriesAnduril's revenue doubled to about $2.25 billion in 2025, according to reports on its May 2026 funding round. | Defense ministries buying autonomous systems at scale | 97.3 | Custom |
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| 2 |  Shield AIIn October 2026 the US Navy added $150 million to Shield AI's X-BAT AI-piloted fighter program, bringing combined commitments to $400 million. | Militaries adding autonomy to aircraft and drones | 96.1 | Custom |
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| 3 |  HelsingHelsing's Series E investors included Dragoneer, Lightspeed, General Catalyst and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, and it announced US manufacturing plans alongside the round. | European defence ministries and armed forces | 95.0 | Custom |
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| 4 |  Saronic TechnologiesSaronic said the Series D will fund expansion of its shipbuilding operation and production of its autonomous vessel range. | Navies adding uncrewed vessels to their fleets | 93.8 | Custom |
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| 5 |  CastelionCastelion is building Blackbeard at a 1,000-acre site in Sandoval County, New Mexico, and says it aims to deploy the missile in 2027. | Militaries seeking affordable long-range strike | 92.6 | Custom |
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| 6 |  Quantum SystemsReports on its Series D credit Quantum Systems drones with more than 19,000 missions in Ukraine. | Survey and security teams that need long-range VTOL drones | 91.4 | Custom |
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| 7 |  HadrianHadrian says its manufacturing footprint has grown to nearly three million square feet across four facilities. | Defence and space companies outsourcing precision parts | 90.1 | Custom |
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| 8 |  CHAOS IndustriesThe November 2025 round brought CHAOS's total funding to about $1 billion, according to reports. | Forces building counter-drone sensor networks | 88.9 | Custom |
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| 9 |  EpirusEpirus received a $43.5 million US Army contract for second-generation Leonidas systems, adding to prototypes the Army has fielded since 2023. | Bases defending against drone swarms | 87.6 | Custom |
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| 10 |  Mach IndustriesMach demonstrated its Viper autonomous strike platform at the VANGUARD exercise in Lithuania in July 2026. | Armies wanting cheap long-range strike in volume | 86.3 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Anduril Industries (#1): Defense ministries buying autonomous systems at scale
- Shield AI (#2): Militaries adding autonomy to aircraft and drones
- Helsing (#3): European defence ministries and armed forces
- Saronic Technologies (#4): Navies adding uncrewed vessels to their fleets
- Castelion (#5): Militaries seeking affordable long-range strike
- Quantum Systems (#6): Survey and security teams that need long-range VTOL drones
- Hadrian (#7): Defence and space companies outsourcing precision parts
- CHAOS Industries (#8): Forces building counter-drone sensor networks
- Epirus (#9): Bases defending against drone swarms
- Mach Industries (#10): Armies wanting cheap long-range strike in volume
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Autonomous defense systems and weapons
Anduril, founded in 2017 and based in Costa Mesa, California, builds autonomous drones, counter-drone systems, uncrewed aircraft and undersea vehicles tied together by its Lattice software. It raised a $5 billion Series H at a $61 billion valuation in May 2026, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.
PROS- Revenue and production already at scale
- Products across air, land and sea
CONS- Sells only to governments and allies
- Private company with limited disclosure
- Best for
- Defense ministries buying autonomous systems at scale
- Where it falls short
- It does not sell to private entities, limiting options for commercial buyers.
- Pick something else if
- you are a private company seeking vendor solutions.
97.3
02
AI pilots for drones and aircraft
Shield AI, founded in 2015 and based in San Diego, makes Hivemind, an AI pilot for aircraft, and the V-BAT vertical take-off drone. It raised a $1.5 billion Series G at a $12.7 billion valuation in March 2026, plus $500 million in preferred equity from Blackstone.
PROS- Products already flying with militaries
- Autonomy software works across aircraft types
CONS- Defense customers only
- Competes with large defense primes
- Best for
- Militaries adding autonomy to aircraft and drones
- Where it falls short
- It serves defense customers only, excluding commercial buyers.
- Pick something else if
- you need commercial solutions.
96.1
03
AI software and systems for defence
Helsing, founded in 2021 and based in Munich, builds AI software for military sensors and platforms, along with its own strike drones and autonomous systems. It raised a $1.8 billion Series E at an $18 billion valuation in July 2026.
PROS- Builds both software and hardware
- Very large funding base
CONS- Defence customers only
- Military AI draws ethical scrutiny
- Best for
- European defence ministries and armed forces
- Where it falls short
- It serves only defense customers, excluding commercial or civilian buyers.
- Pick something else if
- you need solutions for non-military sectors.
95.0
04
Autonomous surface vessels
Saronic, founded in 2022 and based in Austin, Texas, designs and builds autonomous surface vessels and the software that runs them, and is expanding into shipbuilding. It raised a $1.75 billion Series D at a $9.25 billion valuation in March 2026, led by Kleiner Perkins.
PROS- Vessels in several sizes
- Funded to scale production
CONS- Defense customers only
- Young company
- Best for
- Navies adding uncrewed vessels to their fleets
- Where it falls short
- It serves defense customers only.
- Pick something else if
- you are not a defense customer.
93.8
05
Low-cost Blackbeard hypersonic missile
Castelion, based in Torrance, California, is developing Blackbeard, a lower-cost hypersonic strike missile built for volume production. In August 2026 it raised $800 million in equity plus a $250 million credit facility at a $13 billion valuation.
PROS- Designed for mass production
- Backed by JPMorganChase, Andreessen Horowitz and Carlyle
CONS- Missile not yet deployed
- Factory still being built out
- Best for
- Militaries seeking affordable long-range strike
- Where it falls short
- The Blackbeard missile is not yet deployed and the factory is still being built out.
- Pick something else if
- you need a weapon that is already in service.
92.6
06
Long-range VTOL drones for mapping and security
Quantum Systems, founded in 2015 near Munich, makes electric vertical take-off reconnaissance drones and autonomous unmanned systems used by NATO forces and Ukraine. It raised a $1.2 billion Series D at about $8 billion in July 2026, co-led by Blackstone, Airbus and Advent.
PROS- Long-range fixed-wing VTOL designs
- Very well funded
CONS- Mostly focused on defense
- Enterprise pricing only
- Best for
- Survey and security teams that need long-range VTOL drones
- Where it falls short
- Mostly focused on defense.
- Pick something else if
- you need affordable options for non-defense use.
91.4
07
Automated precision factories for defence and aerospace
Hadrian, founded in 2020, runs highly automated factories that make precision parts and, increasingly, complete systems for defense and aerospace customers. It raised a $1.37 billion Series D at a $7.87 billion valuation in August 2026.
PROS- Very large recent funding round
- Owns and runs its own factories
CONS- Focused on defence and aerospace work
- Capacity tied to new factory build-outs
- Best for
- Defence and space companies outsourcing precision parts
- Where it falls short
- Capacity is tied to new factory build-outs.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate scalable capacity without waiting for construction.
90.1
08
Distributed radar for drone detection
CHAOS Industries, founded in 2022 and based in Los Angeles, builds networked radar and sensing systems designed to detect drones and small aircraft at long range. It raised a $510 million Series D led by Valor Equity Partners in November 2025, at a reported $4.5 billion valuation.
PROS- Targets the urgent counter-drone problem
- Strong investor backing
CONS- Early in production
- Few public contract details
- Best for
- Forces building counter-drone sensor networks
- Where it falls short
- It is still early in production.
- Pick something else if
- you need a proven, mature solution.
88.9
09
Leonidas high-power microwave counter-drone
Epirus, founded in 2018 and based in Torrance, California, makes Leonidas, a high-power microwave system that disables drone swarms. It raised a $250 million Series D in March 2025.
PROS- One system stops many drones at once
- Delivered to the US Army
CONS- Army prototype buys capped at six so far
- Short engagement range
- Best for
- Bases defending against drone swarms
- Where it falls short
- It has a short engagement range against drones.
- Pick something else if
- you need longer range.
87.6
10
Low-cost autonomous strike weapons
Mach Industries, founded in 2023 and based in Huntington Beach, California, builds low-cost autonomous strike systems, including the Viper strike platform it is developing for the US Army. It raised a $300 million Series C in June 2026 at a reported $1.8 billion valuation.
PROS- Built around low unit cost
- Fast fundraising momentum
CONS- Youngest company on this list
- Products still in development
- Best for
- Armies wanting cheap long-range strike in volume
- Where it falls short
- Products are still in development, so they are not yet available for immediate deployment.
- Pick something else if
- you need a ready-to-deploy system today.
86.3
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Defense Tech Startups?
Anduril Industries ranks first on Lister. Anduril, founded in 2017 and based in Costa Mesa, California, builds autonomous drones, counter-drone systems, uncrewed aircraft and undersea vehicles tied together by its Lattice software. It raised a $5 billion Series H at a $61 billion valuation in May 2026, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.
What are the top 10 Defense Tech Startups?
1. Anduril Industries; 2. Shield AI; 3. Helsing; 4. Saronic Technologies; 5. Castelion; 6. Quantum Systems; 7. Hadrian; 8. CHAOS Industries; 9. Epirus; 10. Mach Industries.
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