Helsing, Europe leading defence AI company, has raised $1.8 billion in a Series E round that values the company at $18 billion, marking one of the largest private defence tech fundraises ever.
The oversubscribed round attracted Dragoneer Investment Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Disruptive, Iconiq, Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, JPMorganChase, CPP Investments, General Catalyst, Plural, and Stepstone. The company remains predominantly European-owned.
AI for the battlefield
Founded in 2021, Helsing builds AI software combining data from drones, radar, satellites, cameras, and other sensors into a single real-time operational picture. Its systems help armed forces detect threats and track targets without replacing human operators.
The company has expanded into autonomous defence systems including AI-powered strike drones for GPS-denied environments and underwater surveillance technologies for critical infrastructure protection.
The new capital will accelerate AI platform development for partner nations. Helsing board remains unchanged with co-chairmen Daniel Ek and Tom Enders.