This Drone Engine Startup Just Raised $40M with NATO's Backing

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

A London-based aerospace company called Greenjets just announced a $40 million Series A funding round. That's a big deal for a few reasons, not least because it's backed by NATO's Innovation Fund. We're talking about propulsion systems, aircraft platforms, and launch tech for the next generation of aviation. ### The Money Behind the Mission The round was led by Blossom Capital. Other investors include the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), and existing backers like Tanglin Ventures and NSFO Family Office. That's a pretty impressive lineup, and it tells you something about where this is headed. ### Why This Matters Now Anmol Manohar and Dr. Guido Monterzino, the co-founders, put it bluntly. When they started Greenjets in 2022, their goal was to shape aviation's future. Then the conflict in Ukraine happened. It showed just how critical these same technologies are for protecting lives and strengthening Europe's resilience. They see building affordable defensive capability as a natural extension of their mission. ### What Greenjets Actually Does The company has developed patented engine technology that boosts aircraft safety and cuts certification time. Their propulsion systems range from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines. Combine that with smart aircraft integration and low-cost manufacturing, and you get planes that are quieter, faster, and more efficient. ### The Drone Problem Nobody's Talking About Here's where it gets really interesting. The NIF pointed out that drones have become the defining weapon of modern conflict. Russia produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025, up from 11,000 in 2024. And those drones are getting faster. Newer variants hit speeds of 310 mph. At those speeds, propeller-based interceptors can't keep up. Turbojets can, but they take up to two minutes to spool up and have supply chain issues. Greenjets fills that gap. They provide the engines and airframes that make interceptors fast enough to catch these drones. As Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky from NIF put it, "The speed at which the defence and security drone industry is evolving means that propulsion is the constraint that determines whether an interceptor can close the gap." ### Scaling Up Fast The company is already under contract with multiple UK and international programs. Demonstration trials with the UK MOD are coming this year. They've expanded their UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet. And they're growing their team from 160 to over 250 people. ### What's Next Greenjets plans to use this funding to shift from development to full-scale production. We're talking thousands of systems delivered over the next 12 months. Alongside that, they'll accelerate work on propulsion and AI. The goal is to make affordable defensive tech a reality, not just a talking point.