European defencetech hits record $7.4B as investment nearly triples in 2026

Venture capital investment in European defencetech startups has reached a record $7.4 billion in 2026 to date, nearly three times the $2.6 billion raised 2025, according to a new report from Dealroom and Resilience Media. Mega-rounds, including seven $1B+ rounds: Anduril, Helsing, Saronic, Shield AI, Quantum Systems, ICEYE and Castelion, account for more than 85 per cent of funding this year. Defencetech is now the fastest-growing major segment of European venture capital and accounts for 11.1 p