Wire flash
FinanceEuropean defense startup Helsing raises $1.8 bln at $18 bln valuation
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
European defense startup Helsing announced a $1.8 billion funding round on July 13, 2026, valuing the German company at $18 billion. The round saw participation from new and existing investors including JPMorgan Chase, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Iconiq, with demand significantly exceeding supply. Helsing develops AI-driven defense hardware and software, including drones and underwater surveillance systems, and supplies HX-2 drones to Ukraine. The company positions itself as a European champion in defense technology amid growing European focus on sovereign capabilities. The funding will accelerate development of new AI platforms for partner nations. The raise comes amid a broader boom in defense tech investing, with US rival Anduril recently raising $5 billion at a $61 billion valuation.
Source report
A model of the CA-1 Europa drone, manufactured by the defense contractor Helsing, is on display in front of the company's booth at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
European defense startup Helsing announced Monday that it has raised $1.8 billion in a funding round, valuing the German company at $18 billion.
Key Details
- The funding round values the Munich-headquartered firm at $18 billion.
- Helsing is a European rival to U.S. startup Anduril, which has also attracted significant investor backing amid a surge in defense tech investment.
Investors
New and existing investors participated in the funding, including:
- JPMorgan Chase (U.S. investment bank)
- Lightspeed Venture Partners (venture capital)
- Iconiq (venture capital)
"Investor demand significantly exceeded the available allocation, reflecting strong and growing confidence in AI-driven and software-defined defence technology," Helsing said in a press release.
Company Profile
Helsing describes itself as a hardware and software platform for defense. Its offerings include:
- Drones
- Underwater surveillance weapons
- Artificial intelligence and autonomous software for military applications
The company has positioned itself as a European champion in defense. Its HX-2 drones are among the systems being supplied to the Ukrainian army. Helsing has benefited from Europe's renewed focus on building more sovereign capabilities in technology and defense.
"The company remains predominantly European-owned, underscoring its deep roots in Europe," Helsing stated.
Use of Funds
The latest funding round will "accelerate Helsing's mission to develop and integrate entirely new AI platforms into the defense capabilities of its growing number of partner nations," the startup added.
Broader Market Context
Private market investors have been eager to back new-age defense companies. Notable recent funding rounds include:
- Anduril (U.S. rival to Helsing) — raised $5 billion at a $61 billion valuation in May 2026
- Shield AI — raised funding in October 2025
- Saronic (autonomous shipmaker) — raised $1.75 billion in March 2026
Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
Source
US Top News and AnalysisWestern
Part of this Story
European defense startup Helsing raises $1.8 billion at $18 billion valuation