Five-year-old European military drone startup hellsing It is reportedly close to raising a new round of $1.2 billion at a valuation of about $18 billion. The round is expected to be led by Dragoneer and co-led by existing Hellsing investor Lightspeed Financial Times reported.
Hellsing’s last parenting took place a little less than a year ago, in June 2025In a deal that was led by billionaire Spotify founder Daniel Ek. This was a €600 million investment at an estimated €12 billion valuation ($14 billion USD). So this new phase is a step forward.
While Hellsing is not the only European unicorn defense technology, it is by far the most valuable technology that investors consider most valuable. For example, German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems Raised €180 million in NovemberWhich was valued at more than €3 billion. And a year ago, Lisbon-headquartered Techever raised £400 million Valuation above £1 billion. Amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the proving ground for new technologies, autonomous defense startups have become a hot zone for VCs.
Hellsing, Dragoneer and Lightspeed could not immediately be reached for comment.
