Greenjets Raises $40M Series A With NATO Backing for Next-Gen Aviation

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

A London-based aerospace company called Greenjets just announced a massive $40 million Series A funding round, and the big news here is that the NATO Innovation Fund is one of the lead investors. That's right — NATO is putting money into a startup that builds propulsion systems, aircraft platforms, and launch technologies for the next generation of aviation. ### The Funding Round and Key Players The round was led by Blossom Capital, with participation from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF). Existing investors like Tanglin Ventures and NSFO Family Office also joined in. This isn't just another funding round — it's a signal that defense and aerospace tech is becoming a priority for European security. ### Why This Matters for European Startups Greenjets was founded in 2022 by Anmol Manohar and Dr. Guido Monterzino. The company claims its patented engine technology makes aircraft safer and reduces the certification burden. They've developed everything from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines. The goal? Build engines that are quieter, faster, and more efficient than what's out there today. But here's the real kicker: the conflict in Ukraine has changed everything. Drones have become the defining weapon of modern warfare. Russia produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025 alone — up from 11,000 the year before. And these drones are getting faster. Newer variants can hit speeds of 310 miles per hour. At those speeds, propeller-based interceptors can't keep up. Turbojets can, but they take up to two minutes to spool up and have supply chain issues. > "Drones have become the defining weapon of modern conflict," the NATO Innovation Fund stated. "Greenjets provides the underlying engines and airframes to close this gap." ### What Greenjets Is Building Greenjets' integrated portfolio spans three main areas: - **Propulsion systems** — engines that power drones and aircraft - **Aircraft platforms** — the actual airframes and vehicles - **Launch technologies** — systems to get these vehicles airborne All of this is built on a common technology stack, which allows rapid iteration and production at scale. The company is already under contract with multiple UK and international programs, and demonstration trials with the UK Ministry of Defence are scheduled for this year. ### Scaling Up Fast Greenjets has expanded its UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet — that's more than five times the original space. The company is on track to grow from 160 employees to over 250, supporting the transition from development to production. The plan is to deliver thousands of systems over the next 12 months. Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner at NIF, summed it up perfectly: "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. Greenjets is addressing this at the engine and airframe level, meaningfully improving the performance of UAS and CUAS companies." ### What This Means for US Readers For professionals in the US watching European startup incorporation trends, this deal is a big deal. It shows that NATO is actively backing early-stage companies in defense tech. If you're building in aerospace, defense, or dual-use tech, the message is clear: European investors — including NATO — are ready to write big checks. And with the US market being the largest defense spender globally, companies like Greenjets could eventually target American customers. Greenjets plans to use the funding to accelerate its transition from development to production, with a focus on delivering thousands of systems. The investment will also support development across its propulsion and AI capabilities. This is exactly the kind of story that shows how European startups are stepping up to meet modern defense challenges — and how NATO is betting on innovation to do it.