For years, investing in defence technology was seen as controversial, with many investors and technologists treating it as a ‘dirty word’. That view is changing rapidly...............and for good reasons.

In 2025, global defence-tech companies have collectively raised nearly $13 billion, and European funding jumped almost 30 per cent in the first half of the year alone. In the UK, a historic £5 billion investment is driving drones, lasers and autonomous systems, while EU funds are pouring more than €1 billion into next-generation defence research and development.

Why this shift? Global instability and new threats are pushing nations to modernise defence capabilities quickly. But it’s not just about tanks and fighter jets, today’s defence innovation is advancing AI, quantum computing and sensors with major civilian spinoffs. The internet and GPS started as military tech, and today’s funding for defence could fuel tomorrow’s breakthrough civilian applications.

Most importantly, investing in security and resilience shouldn’t be taboo. Tech entrepreneurs and VCs are realising this. As one insider said: ‘Defence should not be a dirty word’, startups are proudly building for national security and not hiding behind ‘dual-use’ labels any more. The result? Stronger economies, cutting-edge technology and a safer world.

It’s time for investors and innovators to embrace defence tech as a key driver of progress, not something to whisper about. The world needs it—now more than ever.