Lockheed Martin Ventures Pours $100M into European Defense Tech Startups

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

American venture capital firm Lockheed Martin Ventures is making a big push into Europe, committing at least $100 million of its $1 billion fund to promising DefenseTech companies across the continent. The firm is also opening a new office in London to get closer to the action. "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." This move comes at a time when Europe's DefenseTech, dual-use, unmanned-systems, and sovereign-intelligence sectors are seeing a surge in funding. According to EU-Startups, nine relevant companies have collectively raised over $1.24 billion, with $1.14 billion of that coming from Quantum Systems' Series D round alone. The remaining eight rounds total about $98.7 million. ### Why Europe? Why Now? The decision to establish a European base in London makes strategic sense. The UK is home to several standout companies in this space, including London-based SatVu and Occam Industries, as well as Bristol's Uplift360. These firms are already part of a vibrant funding pipeline that Lockheed Martin Ventures wants to tap into. Dan Tenney, senior vice president of Global Business Development and Strategy, explains: "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." He adds, "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 has grown into a powerhouse. To date, it has invested over $500 million in more than 120 companies. In the last two years alone, it added 25 new companies to its portfolio. And here's the kicker: 60 of those companies have matured into full-fledged suppliers for Lockheed Martin. But it's not just about the money. Portfolio companies get access to Lockheed Martin's engineering talent, cutting-edge technologies, and deep business expertise. That kind of support can be a game-changer for early-stage startups. ### The Bigger Picture This European expansion follows the largest capital boost in the fund's history. In April, Lockheed Martin announced it was increasing its investment capacity from $400 million to $1 billion. Now, a portion of that enhanced funding is being directed toward accelerating the insertion of new technologies into DefenseTech, with a focus on strengthening the transatlantic defense industrial base. Lockheed Martin Ventures says it has already invested in several European companies, though it hasn't disclosed the full list publicly. You can check out their portfolio for more details. ### What This Means for European Startups For European DefenseTech startups, this is a huge opportunity. Lockheed Martin Ventures isn't just another VC firm—it's a strategic investor that can open doors to major defense contracts and provide world-class technical support. If you're building something in this space, now might be the time to get on their radar. At the same time, the competition for funding is heating up. With $1 billion on the table, the firm is looking for the best and brightest. So if you've got a promising technology that aligns with national security needs, you might want to start preparing your pitch.