Lockheed Martin Ventures Pours Millions Into Europe With New London Office

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

American VC firm Lockheed Martin Ventures is making a serious push into European markets. They're planning to invest a chunk of their massive $1 billion fund in promising DefenceTech companies from across the continent. And they're not just writing checks from afar—they're opening a physical office in London to get closer to the action. The firm aims to invest at least $100 million of its funding in the UK and Europe through this new base. That's a big vote of confidence in European startups, especially those working on defense, dual-use tech, unmanned systems, and sovereign intelligence. ### Why Europe? Why Now? Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, puts it simply: "We are reaching even deeper into the investing ecosystem, meeting our potential partners where they are." He says the physical presence will help them invest earlier in the startup lifecycle, ensure technical interoperability with existing platforms, and better support allied customers. It's a strategic move, not just a financial one. This expansion comes at a time when European DefenceTech is on fire. EU-Startups has tracked over $1.24 billion raised by nine key companies in the space. That includes a massive $1.14 billion Series D for Quantum Systems, with the other eight rounds totaling around $98.6 million combined. ### The UK Connection The UK is a big part of this story. London-based SatVu and Occam Industries, plus Bristol's Uplift360, are just a few examples of the vibrant startup scene Lockheed Martin wants to tap into. That makes sense, given the UK is where they're planting their flag. Dan Tenney, senior vice president of Global Business Development and Strategy, says: "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 that their investment strategy will evolve as technologies emerge and the startup environment matures in markets where they operate. ### A Track Record of Success Lockheed Martin Ventures isn't new to this. Founded in 2007 with an initial $100 million, it's the investment arm of the aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin. Over the years, they've matured 60 companies into full-blown suppliers. To date, they've invested over $500 million in more than 120 companies. In just the last two years, they've added 25 new portfolio companies. ### More Than Just Money Here's what makes Lockheed Martin Ventures different: they don't just write checks. Portfolio companies get access to the company's engineering talent, cutting-edge technologies and research, and the full suite of Lockheed Martin's business and technical expertise. That's a huge advantage for startups trying to scale in a highly regulated industry. ### The Bigger Picture This European push follows the biggest capital boost in the fund's history. In April, Lockheed Martin announced it would increase its investment capacity from $400 million to $1 billion. Now, they're using a portion of that enhanced funding to launch Lockheed Martin Ventures Europe, which will accelerate the insertion of new technologies into DefenceTech—part of the company's commitment to strengthen the transatlantic defense industrial base. ### What This Means for European Startups For founders in defense, dual-use, unmanned systems, and sovereign intelligence, this is a massive opportunity. Lockheed Martin Ventures has already invested in several European companies (the full list is available on their site). With a dedicated office in London and a $1 billion fund to deploy, they're signaling that European innovation is a priority. So if you're building something that could complement national security capabilities or advance solutions for current and future customer mission needs, now might be the perfect time to get on their radar.