European defence technology company Helsing has secured $1.8 billion in a Series E funding round, pushing its valuation to $18 billion and reinforcing its position as Europe’s best-funded defence technology startup.

The investment comes amid a surge in European defence spending following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as governments increasingly prioritize technology that enhance battlefield awareness, decision-making, and autonomous capabilities.

The funding round attracted a broad group of international investors, underscoring growing global confidence in Europe’s defence technology sector. Participants include U.S.-based venture capital firms Dragoneer Investment Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst, Iconiq and Disruptive, alongside financial institutions Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, as well as Canadian pension fund CPP Investments.

Founded in Munich in 2021, Helsing initially focused on developing artificial intelligence software to process and analyze battlefield data. Since then, the company has expanded its portfolio into autonomous strike drones, underwater surveillance systems, and military aircraft applications.

The company has secured defence contracts with multiple European governments and defence companies and has supplied drones to Ukraine through German government-backed funding initiatives.

The latest investment follows another major financing round in the European defence sector. Last week, German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems raised $1.2 billion, more than doubling its valuation to approximately $8 billion. Together, the two transactions highlight continued investor appetite for European defence technology companies as governments seek to accelerate military modernization and strengthen domestic industrial capabilities.

The influx of private capital also reflects a broader shift in the defence investment landscape. Once viewed as a niche sector by many institutional investors, defence technology has increasingly attracted mainstream venture capital and financial institutions as geopolitical tensions drive sustained demand for advanced military capabilities.

Helsing’s latest funding positions the company to continue expanding its AI-enabled defence technologies across multiple operational domains, as Europe continues to invest heavily in next-generation defence systems.