Greenjets Raises $40M Series A With NATO Backing to Revolutionize Drone Propulsion

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

### A $40 Million Bet on the Future of Flight Greenjets, a London-based aerospace company, just announced a massive $40 million Series A funding round. And it's not just any round—the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is one of the lead investors. That's a huge signal that this isn't just about building cooler planes; it's about reshaping how we think about defense and security in the 21st century. The round was led by Blossom Capital, with NIF and the UK's National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) joining in. Existing backers like Tanglin Ventures and NSFO Family Office also chipped in. This mix of top-tier venture capital and strategic defense funds tells you everything you need to know about the company's potential. ### Why NATO Cares About Drone Engines Here's the thing: drones have completely changed modern warfare. Russia alone produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025, up from just 11,000 the year before. And those drones are getting faster—some variants now hit speeds of over 310 miles per hour. At those speeds, traditional propeller-based interceptors just can't keep up. Turbojet engines can, but they have their own problems. They take up to two minutes to spool up, and supply chains are shaky. That's where Greenjets comes in. The company builds engines and airframes specifically designed to close this gap. Think of it as the difference between a muscle car that takes forever to start and a Tesla that launches the instant you hit the pedal. ### How the Technology Actually Works Greenjets was founded in 2022 by Anmol Manohar and Dr. Guido Monterzino. Their big idea? Create propulsion systems that are quieter, faster, and more efficient than anything else out there. They've developed everything from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines, all built on a common technology stack. - **Proprietary engine architecture** that reduces certification burden - **Low-cost manufacturing** that makes scaling possible - **Advanced aircraft integration** for better performance They claim their patented engine tech increases aircraft safety while making it easier to get certified. That's a big deal in an industry where red tape can kill innovation. ### From Development to Production Greenjets isn't just a lab experiment. They're already under contract with multiple UK and international programs, and they're moving toward demonstration trials with the UK Ministry of Defence this year. The company has expanded its UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet—that's about the size of a football field. And they're on track to grow their team from 160 to over 250 people. "The speed at which the defense 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," says Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner at NIF. "Greenjets is addressing this at the engine and airframe level, meaningfully improving the performance of UAS and CUAS companies." ### What the Funding Will Do The company plans to use this cash to accelerate their transition from development to full-scale production. We're talking thousands of systems delivered over the next 12 months. Alongside scaling production, the investment will speed up development of their propulsion, airframe, and AI technologies. It's a bold bet, but the timing couldn't be better. As Manohar and Monterzino put it, "The conflict in Ukraine has reinforced just how important those same technologies are in protecting lives, strengthening Europe's resilience, and enabling the future of flight." In other words, this isn't just about building a better drone engine. It's about building a safer world. And with $40 million and NATO's backing, Greenjets is in a prime position to do just that.