This British Startup Just Raised $40 Million to Build Faster Drone Engines for NATO

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

A London-based aerospace company just closed a massive funding round, and it's not your typical startup story. Greenjets, a company building next-generation propulsion systems for aviation, has raised $40 million (€35 million) in Series A funding. But here's the kicker: the NATO Innovation Fund is one of the lead investors. ### Why NATO Is Betting on a Small Aerospace Company This isn't just about building cooler planes. The conflict in Ukraine has shown how fast drone technology is changing warfare. Russia produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025, up from just 11,000 the year before. And these aren't the slow, clunky drones you might imagine. Newer variants are hitting speeds of 310 miles per hour (500 km/h). At those speeds, traditional propeller-based interceptors can't keep up. Turbojets can, but they take up to two minutes to spool up and have supply chain issues. Greenjets is building engines and airframes that close that gap. Think of it as the difference between trying to catch a racehorse on foot versus driving a sports car. ### What Greenjets Actually Does Founded in 2022 by Anmol Manohar and Dr. Guido Monterzino, Greenjets has developed patented engine technology that spans from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines. The company claims their designs increase aircraft safety and reduce certification burdens. Combined with advanced aircraft integration and low-cost manufacturing, they're making planes that are: - Quieter than current models - Faster than traditional propulsion systems - More fuel-efficient - Better suited for modern aerospace demands Their integrated portfolio covers propulsion systems, aircraft platforms, and launch technologies, all built on a common tech stack. This lets them iterate quickly, scale production, and deploy across multiple applications. ### The Funding Details The round was led by Blossom Capital, with participation from: - NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) - National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) - Tanglin Ventures - NSFO Family Office - Other existing investors Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner at NIF, put it bluntly: "The speed at which the defence and security drone industry is evolving means that propulsion is the constraint that determines whether an interceptor can close the gap on a 310 mph target or vice versa. Greenjets is addressing this at the engine and airframe level." ### What This Means for the Future The company is already under contract across multiple UK and international programs, with technologies heading toward demonstration trials with the UK Ministry of Defence this year. They've expanded their UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet and plan to grow from 160 to over 250 employees. Greenjets plans to use this funding to accelerate their transition from development to production, aiming to deliver thousands of systems over the next 12 months. The investment will also speed up development across their propulsion, aircraft integration, and manufacturing lines. ### The Bigger Picture This funding round highlights something important: the line between commercial aerospace and defense technology is blurring fast. Greenjets started with a mission to shape the future of aviation, but the realities of modern conflict have pushed them into a dual role. As CEO Manohar and CTO Monterzino said, "Building affordable defensive capability is a necessary response to today's realities, and a natural extension of our mission to advance aviation." For startups and investors watching this space, the message is clear. Defense tech isn't just about weapons anymore. It's about propulsion, manufacturing, and the same kind of innovation that powers commercial aviation. And with NATO backing, companies like Greenjets are positioned to move faster than ever.