How a London Startup's Jet Engines Caught NATO's Attention and $40M

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Greenjets, a London-based aerospace startup, raised $40M from NATO and others to scale its jet engine tech for intercepting fast drones. The company's propulsion systems aim to close a critical gap in modern defense.

Greenjets, a London-based aerospace company building propulsion systems and aircraft for next-gen aviation, just locked in a $40 million Series A round. The funding was led by Blossom Capital, with the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) and the UK's National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) joining in. Existing backers like Tanglin Ventures and NSFO Family Office also participated. This isn't your typical startup story. Greenjets is tackling a problem that's become painfully urgent: how to stop fast-moving drones without breaking the bank. And they're doing it with some seriously clever engine tech. ### Why NATO Is Betting on Greenjets Drones have changed warfare. Russia alone produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025, up from 11,000 the year before. These things are getting faster too. Newer variants hit about 310 miles per hour. At those speeds, traditional propeller-based interceptors can't keep up. Turbojets can, but they take up to two minutes to spool up, and their supply chains are a nightmare. Greenjets offers a different path. Their patented engine tech spans electric ducted fans to geared turbofans. The idea is simple: make engines that are quieter, faster, and more efficient, while slashing certification costs. Combined with smart aircraft integration and low-cost manufacturing, they're building systems that can be produced at scale and deployed fast. Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, a partner at NIF, put it bluntly: "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 or vice versa. Greenjets is addressing this at the engine and airframe level, meaningfully improving the performance of UAS and CUAS companies, without them having to solve propulsion independently." ### From Development to Production Greenjets was founded in 2022 by CEO Anmol Manohar and CTO Dr. Guido Monterzino. The conflict in Ukraine accelerated their mission. "When we founded Greenjets, our ambition was to develop the technologies that would shape the future of aviation," they said in a joint statement. "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." The company has already expanded its UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet. They're on track to grow from 160 to over 250 employees. And they're under contract with multiple UK and international programs, with demonstration trials happening this year with the UK Ministry of Defence. ### What's Next Greenjets plans to use this funding to accelerate the shift from development to production. They're aiming to deliver thousands of systems over the next 12 months. The investment will also speed up work on their propulsion and AI capabilities. Here's a quick look at what they're building: - **Propulsion systems**: Electric ducted fans through geared turbofans - **Aircraft platforms**: Integrated airframes designed for rapid iteration - **Launch technologies**: Systems built on a common tech stack for multiple applications The bottom line? Greenjets isn't just building better engines. They're rethinking how we defend against the drones that are reshaping modern conflict. And with NATO backing, they've got the resources to make it happen at scale.

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