“New Defense refers to a new breed of technology-first, venture-backable defense startups that operate with speed, adaptability, and technical excellence.”
— Jonatan Luther-Bergquist on Substack
https://svrgn.substack.com/p/europes-new-defense
Unlike legacy defense primes, new defense startups thrive on rapid field-driven iterations, modular design, and software-centric approaches. Fueled by breakthroughs in sensor technology, autonomy, and distributed manufacturing, they are redefining the future of defense innovation.
With The New Defense Post, we’re starting a media platform dedicated to this next generation of defense companies—delivering real insights through in-depth interviews, market overviews, and sharp analysis.
— Benjamin, Jonatan, Paolo, and the entire European Defense Tech Hub team
Topics We Will Cover This Week
In the Hot Seat: Misha, co-founder of HIMERA, speaks with us about his founding journey building communication systems in Ukraine.
New Defense Summit: We’re launching Europe’s go-to conference helping innovators go from prototype to viable defense company.
Spotlights: ‘Flamingo’ gives Ukraine homegrown deep-strike capabilities; VCs pour money into European air defense startups; STARK raises $62mn from Sequoia and Peter Thiel.
Fundraising news of the week: STARK, Loft Dynamics, Dropla Tech, MaXon, and Skypuzzler raised fresh capital.
Bonus Section: We’ll address one of the big questions in defense tech: Can lasers redefine air defense? (Spoiler alert: it depends)
In the Hot Seat
Photo Credit: HIMERA
HIMERA’s CEO and Co-founder, Misha Rudominski, talked to us about building affordable, low-detectability radios that survive heavy electronic warfare (EW) and lessons learned on the battlefield. Battlefield success in Ukraine has positioned HIMERA as a go-to choice for those seeking modern, affordable, EW-resistant communications, and has also attracted strong investor interest. Read the full interview on The New Defense Post
New Defense Summit – Berlin
The New Defense Summit helps innovators go from prototype to viable defense company.
Join us on November 17, 2025, in Berlin, to connect with investors, industry experts, and decision-makers and accelerate the next wave of defense innovation!
Sign up here: https://lu.ma/new-defense-summit-2025
A one-day conference designed for teams with working prototypes ready to scale. Learn how to secure capital, win contracts, and navigate regulation.
Unlike large generalist conferences, the New Defense Summit is deliberately small and curated.
Instead of endless panels, the program will feature short pitches, lightning talks, and hands-on workshops—formats designed to deliver real value.
Instead of rushed networking breaks, we dedicate ample time for genuine conversations that spark partnerships, contracts, and long-term collaboration.
Spotlights
1. Ukraine Debuts Long-Range ‘Flamingo’ FP-5 With 1,150-kg Warhead, 3,000-km Range
Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile during tests. Photo Credit: Fire Point
Ukraine’s Fire Point unveils the “Flamingo” FP-5 long-range cruise missile, claiming serial production for 2026.
The FP-5 offers ~3,000 km range with an ~1,150 kg warhead, positioning it for deep-strike missions.
The program reflects Ukraine’s push for domestically produced long-range strike options amid sustained conflict and unsteady support from Western countries
🗣 Iryna Terekh, the company's CEO and technical director: “I would say there is some sort of big dick energy moment. You don’t need a scary name for a missile that can fly 3,000 kilometers.” (Politico)
📰 Our Take: This is a pivotal moment for Ukraine. Ukraine now possesses a weapon with the capacity to seriously damage critical infrastructure deep behind enemy lines. The "Flamingo" has more than seven times the payload of Ukraine’s R-360 Neptune missile, which carries a 150 kg warhead and has a range of only about 280–300 km.
2. Europe’s Air Defense Startups Attract Heavy VC Investment
Russian ZALA 421-16E reconnaissance drone moments before being intercepted, August 2024. Photo Credit: Serhii Sternenko
Lakestar, Lux Capital, Inflection, Accel, and others are funding Europe’s interceptor/C-UAS push. Cambridge Aerospace (UK) raised $100mn at a $400mn valuation; Tytan Technologies (DE) has raised €15mn+ to date; Nordic Air Defence (SE) has raised a total of $4.4mn.
Russia’s mass Shahed attacks and US talk of a “Golden Dome” have shown the need for cost-effective interceptors to close Europe’s capability gap.
What the startups are building:
Tytan Interceptor (>250 kph) pairs off-the-shelf/3D-printed hardware with AI to keep cost-per-kill low.
Cambridge’s Skyhammer (capable of speeds up to 700 kph, with a ~30 km range) targets large drones/cruise missiles.
The Kreuger 100, from Nordic Air Defence (NAD), is a miniature drone interceptor designed to defend against aerial threats like the Orlan-10 and Shahed loitering munitions.
🗣 Max Enders, Tytan head of governmental affairs: “The old western paradigm of shooting very expensive missiles at very cost-effective drones… is failing… The aim is to always be cheaper than what we are shooting down.” (Financial Times)
📰 Our Take: This has been clear in Ukraine for a long time: you can’t shoot down a cheap drone with an expensive missile. Price and scalability become critical.
3. Stark Raises $62mn for Weaponised Drone Systems, Backed by Sequoia and Peter Thiel
Virtus strike drone. Photo Credit: STARK
STARK, a German strike-drone maker, raised $62mn led by Sequoia at a ~$500mn valuation, bringing total funding to ~$100mn; backers reportedly include Peter Thiel.
Founded in 2024 by Quantum Systems cofounder Florian Seibel, STARK is building weaponised UAVs and swarm-capable systems.
The company has also expanded into the UK, opening a new drone production facility, and acquired Berlin-based Pleno to enhance its autonomous swarm navigation capabilities.
STARK is a key partner for the European Defense Tech Hackathon in London on September 25-28, 2025, as part of London Defence Tech Week
📰 Our Take: STARK has very quickly become a leading scale-up in European defense tech. It also serves as an example of what can be achieved when you pursue urgent needs in the defense sector without limitations.
In a recent Sifted podcast, Florian explained that he had to launch an entirely new company (STARK) to accommodate investors in Quantum Systems who were either uncomfortable with offensive technology or restricted from backing it due to stringent LP agreements.
The lesson: Before bringing investors on board, ensure they are both able and willing to invest in defense.
Other News
Ukraine launches unified online platform for arms manufacturers (DEFENDER media)
This Week’s Statistics
Ukraine manufactured over 2.2 million FPV drones in 2024, making it the world's largest producer (UNITED24)
Fundraising News
Amount | Name | Round | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
$62.0mn | Attach Drones | ||
$24.0mn | Training | ||
€2.4mn | Explosive Detection | ||
$300k | MaXon | Air Defense | |
Undisclosed | Drones Traffic Management |
Bonus Section — Can Lasers Redefine Air Defense?
Preble fires its HELIOS system during weapons testing. Photo Credit: DOT&E
The advantages are pretty clear: Lasers run on electric power and offer a very low cost per kill, helping to avoid the cost trap of modern air defense — where, by now, the interceptor is oftentimes more expensive than the threat it intercepts.
Some of the most interesting successes are quite recent. HELIOS, integrated with Aegis on USS Preble, scored an airborne drone kill during a 2024 test—evidence that shipboard high-energy lasers can deliver “operationally relevant” effects. HELIOS’ fiber-laser spectral beam combining is a significant part of that—enabling better beam quality and electrical-to-optical efficiency, ease of pointing/beam control, and reduced heat.
Meanwhile, Israel is moving to field Iron Beam at scale, and officials say high-power lasers have already downed hostile drones, suggesting layered air defenses can add a deep-magazine, low-cost-per-shot solution against UAS and rockets.
Then why don’t we use lasers at scale in Ukraine and Europe to intercept drones?
Atmospheric absorption, turbulence, rain/fog, and thermal blooming narrow engagement windows; lasers require a steady aim and a clear line of sight, which is challenging in environments with numerous obstacles or adverse weather conditions.
Power and cooling limitations on ships, as well as long-term maintenance and reliability, remain open questions. In other words, successful shots and pilot deployments aren’t the same as 24/7 fleet air defense or large-salvo rocket scenarios.
To go in depth on the issue and the U.S. Navy’s potential adoption of laser weapons, this report for the U.S. Congress makes for a great read: Navy Shipboard Lasers: Background and Issues for Congress
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