Helsing raises $1.8 billion in Europe's biggest defense-startup round

What happened

Helsingh, a European company specializing in defense AI systems, closed a $1.8 billion Series E at an $18 billion valuation — the largest funding round for a European defense tech startup in history.

Context and impact

Helsingh develops three main products: the HX-2 strike drone, the Altra battlefield AI software platform, and the proposed CA-1 autonomous fighter jet. The round reflects a sharp global acceleration in defense AI investment following military conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

Details

• Round size: $1.8B (Series E), $18B valuation
• Investors: Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Dragoneer Investment Group, Lightspeed, JPMorgan, CPPIB
• Products: HX-2 strike drone, Altra battlefield AI software, proposed CA-1 autonomous fighter
• Record: Largest European defense-tech funding round in history
• Date: July 13, 2026