The media reported a doubling of investments in defense startups in 2026
Investors are investing billions of dollars in defense technology startups, as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf region have turned the development of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) systems for combat into one of the most sought-after areas for venture capital. This was reported on June 21 by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper.
According to the publication, companies have raised $12.3 billion from venture funds since the beginning of 2026. This amount is almost twice as much as the volume of investments for the same period last year and has already exceeded the figure for the whole of last year, which amounted to $ 9.95 billion.
It is reported that the main volume of investments is concentrated in the United States, where startups received $11.4 billion. Almost half of that amount went to Silicon Valley-based Anduril Industries, known for its drones and surveillance towers.
European defense startups have raised $460 million since the beginning of the year, but this figure does not take into account several large deals that have not yet been completed. In particular, Helsing, a German startup in the field of AI for drones, is working to raise $1.2 billion at a valuation of $18 billion.
At the same time, experts express concern about possible overheating of the market. Some investors are wondering whether company revenues will remain stable in the event of a hypothetical end to the conflict in Ukraine, adds "Газета.Ru ".
The Wall Street Journal reported on June 18 that the Pentagon had asked the US Congress to allocate an additional $80 billion to cover the costs of military operations, including in the Middle East. According to the newspaper, the corresponding statement was made by Deputy Defense Minister Steven Feinberg in telephone conversations with lawmakers.
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