Why NATO Backed This British Startup's $40 Million Engine for Supersonic Drones

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-17

Greenjets, a London-based aerospace company building next-gen propulsion systems and aircraft platforms, just closed a $40 million Series A funding round. That's a big deal for a few reasons, but the headline-grabber is that the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) is one of the lead investors. This isn't your typical startup story. We're talking about engines that can push drones past 310 miles per hour, which is exactly what modern defense systems need to counter evolving threats. And the funding isn't just about building cool tech - it's about scaling production fast. ### The Funding Round Breakdown The round was led by Blossom Capital, with participation from: - **NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)** - the alliance's dedicated venture arm - **National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF)** - UK government-backed - **Tanglin Ventures** and **NSFO Family Office** (existing backers) According to co-founders Anmol Manohar and Dr. Guido Monterzino, the company's mission started with shaping aviation's future, but the conflict in Ukraine made their work even more urgent. "Building affordable defensive capability is a necessary response to today's realities," they said in a joint statement. ### The Technology That Caught NATO's Eye Greenjets claims its patented engine technology boosts aircraft safety while slashing certification costs. Their propulsion systems range from electric ducted fans to geared turbofan engines, all designed for quieter, faster, and more efficient flight. But here's where it gets interesting for defense applications. NIF pointed out that Russia produced over 50,000 Shahed-class attack drones in 2025 alone - up from 11,000 the year before. And newer variants can hit 310 miles per hour. > "At those speeds, propeller-based interceptors struggle to catch them. Turbojets can, but they take up to two minutes to spool up and have constrained supply chains. Greenjets provides the underlying engines and airframes to close this gap." - NATO Innovation Fund That's the gap Greenjets is filling: engines that spool up fast enough to intercept supersonic drones, built on a common technology stack that spans propulsion systems, aircraft platforms, and launch technologies. ### Scaling Up for Production Greenjets has already expanded its UK facilities from 12,000 to nearly 70,000 square feet. They're planning to grow from 160 to over 250 employees, ramping up to deliver thousands of systems over the next 12 months. The company is under contract with multiple UK and international programs, with demonstrations scheduled with the UK Ministry of Defence and partners this year. Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner at NIF, put it plainly: "Greenjets is addressing this at the engine and airframe level, meaningfully improving the performance of UAS and CUAS companies, without them having to solve propulsion independently." ### What This Means for European Defense Tech This investment signals a major shift. NATO is putting real money behind startups that can deliver affordable, scalable defense technology. For Greenjets, the $40 million isn't just about building better engines - it's about proving that European startups can compete in the high-stakes world of defense aerospace. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate development across its propulsion and AI capabilities, supporting the transition from R&D to full-scale production. If they deliver on their promises, we could see a new generation of interceptors that can actually keep up with the threats they're designed to stop.