Lockheed Martin Ventures Pours $100 Million Into European Defense Tech

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

American VC firm Lockheed Martin Ventures is making a big push into European markets, planning to invest a chunk of its massive $1 billion fund in promising DefenseTech companies across the continent. The firm is also opening a new office in London, with a goal of putting at least $100 million into startups in the UK and Europe. "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? Lockheed Martin Ventures' plan to deploy part of its investment capacity in Europe comes amid a surge of financing activity across the continent's DefenseTech, dual-use, unmanned-systems, and sovereign-intelligence sectors. The timing is no accident. European startups in these fields have been quietly raising serious cash, and Lockheed wants in on the action before the next big thing takes off. According to EU-Startups, more than $1.24 billion has been raised by nine relevant companies. That includes a massive $1.14 billion Series D for Quantum Systems, with the other eight rounds adding up to about $98.5 million combined. It's a clear signal that the market is heating up. ### The UK Connection The UK is a natural hub for this push. London-based SatVu and Occam Industries, along with Bristol's Uplift360, are just a few examples of the kind of startups Lockheed is eyeing. The United Kingdom, where Lockheed Martin Ventures plans to establish its European office, is already a visible part of this funding pipeline. "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. "We expect our investment strategy to evolve as technologies emerge and the startup environment matures in markets where we do business around the world." ### A Track Record of Success Founded in 2007 with an initial $100 million, Lockheed Martin Ventures is the investment arm of the American aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin. Since its founding, it has helped 60 companies mature into full-fledged suppliers. To date, it has invested more than $500 million in over 120 companies. In the last two years alone, 25 new companies have been added to the portfolio. Beyond capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures offers portfolio companies access to its engineering talent, cutting-edge technologies, research labs, and the full range of Lockheed Martin's business and technical expertise. It's not just about the money—it's about plugging into a global defense ecosystem. ### A Historic Boost The focus on European innovation follows the largest boost in available capital in the fund's history. In April, the company announced it would increase its investment capacity from $400 million to $1 billion. That's more than double what it had before, and it shows a serious commitment to finding the next generation of defense tech. Using a portion of that enhanced funding, Lockheed Martin Ventures Europe will accelerate the insertion of new technologies into DefenseTech, part of the company's broader commitment to strengthen the transatlantic defense industrial base. The firm says it has already invested in a number of European companies, and more deals are likely on the way. ### What This Means for Startups For European startups in defense, dual-use, and related fields, this is a huge opportunity. Lockheed Martin Ventures isn't just another VC—it's a strategic partner with deep pockets and even deeper connections. If you're building something that could enhance national security, improve technical interoperability, or support allied customers, you might want to get on their radar. The bottom line? Lockheed Martin is betting big on Europe, and the message is clear: the best defense tech isn't just coming from Silicon Valley anymore.