Silicon Valley Embraces US Defense Tech Amid Rising Global Conflicts

INNOVATION

Lockheed Martin Invests $50M in Saildrone to Advance Unmanned Surface Vehicle Capabilities for US Navy

Lockheed Martin will rapidly equip Saildrone USVs with all-domain defense technology for lethal military applications.

Defense tech has a new unicorn

Data-tech startup Govini cinched $150 million in growth capital, tipping the company’s valuation over the $1 billion mark.

Silicon Valley Embraces US Defense Tech Amid Rising Global Conflicts

For decades, most major US tech companies and investors steered clear of the Pentagon.

Some were turned off by the labyrinth of contracting rules that left most business in the hands of giants like Lockheed Martin and RTX. Others balked at the ethical questions of building weapons and surveillance systems.

But Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, and China’s rapid military rise have changed that calculus.

INVESTMENT

VC investors step into defense tech with limited visibility

Venture capital investors have been citing reduced red tape and the Golden Dome as major drivers of their leap into defense tech.

Blue Cloud Softech Bags USD 9.63 M Defense Cybersecurity Deal with Axiom Vortex

Blue Cloud’s USD 9.63M collaboration with Axiom Vortex marks a major step in integrating AI-based cybersecurity for defense networks across Africa and the Middle East.

The Iron Bubble: Why defense tech might not be overhyped

Defense tech funding and valuations are soaring, but structural demand suggests substance beneath the hype

TECHNOLOGY

New 52,000-square-foot expansion proposed for St. Pete’s Maritime and Defense Technology Hub

The Hub has quickly become a cornerstone for marine science, defense, and technology innovation, now fully occupied by companies such as Saildrone, which deploys autonomous ocean vehicles from St. Pete to map and monitor Florida’s coastal waters, and Pole Star Defense, which uses maritime intelligence technology to track and prevent threats at sea.

Peter Thiel-Backed Stark Defence Fails All Four Strikes In Military Trials, Exposing Silicon Valley’s Defense Tech Reality Check

A German defense drone startup valued at $500 million suffered a catastrophic public failure during October 2025 military trials when its AI-powered strike drones missed all targets across four separate attempts, raising serious questions about whether venture capital can replicate battlefield-proven innovation.

Defense tech is booming. But we're still missing the basics

America’s national security demands moonshots—but without solving the unsexy, mission-critical problems, we’re building on shaky ground.

Air Force can hit ambitious 10-year fighter jet goal—but only with a blank check and a broader inventory

Buying 300 advanced aircraft by 2030 would require ideal conditions from Congress, industry.

Anduril's drone wingman makes first flight, following software delays

The neoprime contractor lagged behind General Atomics for the inaugural CCA flight test.

EUROPE

STARK and Helsing Win Big in Germany

Under the contract, according to the FT, each producer would supply the German military with about 12,000 drones for about €300M apiece. Helsing’s been tapped for its HX-2, STARK for its Virtus, and Rheinmetall for an armed drone called the FV-014, and the drones are expected to go to the newly activated German 45th Brigade in Lithuania.

Norway Acquires More NASAMS Air Defence Technology

The Norwegian government has ordered more NASAMS air defence components from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’), which will strengthen the country’s defence capabilities to combat aerial threats. The contract has a value of about NOK 1 billion.

Ukraine’s New Ruta Missile Outsmarts GPS Jamming With Spanish Tech

The Ukrainian-developed Ruta cruise missile is equipped with a high-precision guidance system based on Spanish technology, according to Infodefensa on November 1.