Lockheed Martin Ventures Pours $100 Million Into European Defense Tech

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

Lockheed Martin Ventures, the investment arm of the American defense giant, is making a big push into Europe. The firm is opening a new office in London and committing at least $100 million (€87 million) to back promising DefenseTech startups across the continent. This move is part of a larger strategy to tap into Europe's booming defense and dual-use technology sectors. The fund, which recently swelled to $1 billion (€874 million) after a major capital boost in April, will focus on early-stage companies working on everything from unmanned systems to sovereign intelligence. "We are reaching even deeper into the investing ecosystem, meeting our potential partners where they are," says Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures. "Our presence will help us seize opportunities for investing earlier in the startup lifecycle, ensure technical interoperability with existing platforms, and better support our allied customers." ### Why Europe? Why Now? Europe's DefenseTech scene is heating up. In fact, EU-Startups has tracked over $1.24 billion (€1.086 billion) raised by nine key companies in this space. The lion's share—$1.14 billion (€1 billion)—came from Quantum Systems' Series D round, with the remaining $98.6 million (€86.3 million) spread across other deals. UK-based startups like SatVu (London), Occam Industries (London), and Uplift360 (Bristol) are already catching the firm's eye. That makes sense, given that Lockheed Martin Ventures is planting its European flag right in London. The UK is clearly a hotbed for this kind of innovation. ### A Track Record of Success Founded in 2007 with an initial $100 million (€87 million), Lockheed Martin Ventures has come a long way. To date, it has invested over $500 million (€437 million) in more than 120 companies. And it's not just about writing checks—the firm has helped 60 portfolio companies mature into full-fledged suppliers. In the last two years alone, they've added 25 new companies to the portfolio. That's a lot of deal-making. And it's not just about the money. Portfolio companies get access to Lockheed Martin's engineering talent, cutting-edge technologies, and deep business expertise. It's like having a supercharged R&D partner, not just a checkbook. ### What This Means for European Startups For European founders in defense, dual-use, or sovereign tech, this is a big deal. Lockheed Martin Ventures isn't just looking for a quick return—they want to build long-term partnerships. "We are looking to invest in technologies that complement the company's national security capabilities and help advance solutions to meet current and future customer mission needs, while further strengthening the transatlantic defense industrial base," adds Dan Tenney, senior vice president of Global Business Development and Strategy. The firm has already backed several European companies, and with the new London office, expect more deals to come. They're not just throwing money around either. Their investment strategy will evolve as new technologies emerge and the startup ecosystem matures. ### Key Takeaways for Investors and Founders - **Massive capital injection:** $100 million dedicated to Europe, with a $1 billion fund overall. - **Focus areas:** DefenseTech, dual-use tech, unmanned systems, sovereign intelligence. - **Support beyond funding:** Access to engineering, research, and Lockheed Martin's network. - **UK is a priority:** The London office signals strong interest in British startups. This is a clear signal that the transatlantic defense industrial base is getting stronger. For startups in this space, now is the time to get on Lockheed Martin Ventures' radar.