EuropeTech

Shield AI and Leonardo Team Up for Heli-Drones

Last year, it was all, “Everyone loves a tiny little autonomous plane.” Now it’s all, “Everyone loves a tiny little helicopter.” What’s next? Yesterday, autonomy giant Shield AI announced that it’s inked a partnership with European prime Leonardo to integrate its flagship Hivemind autonomy stack onto Proteus, the prime’s “uncrewed rotorcraft” (read: helicopter drone). “Leonardo […]

InvestmentTech

ICYMI: Watchtower Labs Exits the Shadows with a $35M Seed

In case you missed it, there is a new player on the unsexy side of defense. Last week, a new AI-powered planning and logistics company called Watchtower Labs emerged from stealth with $35M in seed funding led by Shield Capital and Conviction, with participation from Founders Fund. The idea is to build “AI-native applications that […]

PentagonTech

Nominal Secures $71M to Expand Across Collaborative Combat Aircraft Testing

The data nerds over at Nominal are (still) on a bit of a heater, this time with one of the Air Force’s most ambitious programs. The testing startup announced yesterday that it’s been selected for a $71.2M AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI)—split between $30M of Nominal’s own cash and $41.2M of government funding—to expand its […]

PentagonTech

Applied Intuition Secures $25M Navy Contract for Onboard AI Data Infrastructure

Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged to make the US military an “AI-first warfighting force,” and the Navy is taking that on board. Literally.  Yesterday, autonomy software giant Applied Intuition announced that the US Navy has tapped it to deploy a new AI-powered sensor fusion and data-collection system “across the manned and unmanned fleet,” starting with […]

InvestmentTech

Arda Emerges from Stealth with $232M for Automated Manufacturing

Remember the olden days when companies emerged from stealth with, like, $5M in funding and a dream? Yeah. It would appear those days are long gone. Earlier this week, manufacturing software startup Arda emerged from stealth with $232M in total funding and a pretty flashy first customer: Anduril. Design within reach: Arda’s company’s flagship software […]

PentagonTech

Long Wall Scores $75M MDA Contract

Turns out 2026 is a great year to be a low-cost interceptor company. This morning, launch hotshot-turned-missile-defense-darling Long Wall (née ABL Space Systems) announced that it’s been awarded a $75M contract from the US Missile Defense Agency to “complete flight testing of [its] Cyclops low-cost interceptor.” “Demand for interceptors has surged, while low production capacity […]