Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Companies in France
The 351 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in France in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Aura Aero.
France's Aerospace, Maritime and Defense sector doesn't lack for ambition. This directory ranks 351 companies operating across that space in France, ordered by disclosed equity funding and recent funding momentum, and the headline number is $294M in total disclosed capital across the field. No unicorns yet. But Aura Aero leads the pack at $58M raised, with Expliseat at $20M and Elixir Aircraft at $18M not far behind. So you're looking at a handful of companies doing real heavy lifting while most of the 351 sit well below that threshold. The global aerospace and defense market sits at roughly $1.08T with a 5.9% CAGR forecast, which gives you a sense of the ceiling France's players are reaching toward.
What I find telling is the investor mix here. Bpifrance and public-sector bodies dominate the active investor list, which reflects how strategically France treats this sector. Digital engagement is tracking that interest too: median install growth across maritime, defense and aerospace apps is running at roughly +15% year-over-year across 68 tracked apps. Coverage is rising fast around geopolitical alliances and national security strategy, which means the policy environment is shifting in ways that tend to pull capital along with them. Defense funding in France isn't purely market-driven. It's also shaped by state priorities, and right now those priorities are clearly aligned.
- prnewswire.com
Our analysis of 50 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies
$6.7b in tracked funding; 89% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in France
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Market signals (1y) | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aura Aero Manufacturer of electric aircrafts | $58M | 2 mo ago | 200 | Jeremy Caussade Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | 16 signals ▼20% Funding · Contracts · Regulatory | — | 2 job openings |
| 2 | AD Industries Diversified conglomerate operating across multiple industries | $53M | 134 mo ago | 1,000 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+35 | — | — | 1 job opening |
| 3 | Ascendance Flight Technologies Developer of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft | $34M | 38 mo ago | 50 | Thibault Baldivia Co-founder & Chief Customer Officer | WebflowGSAPUnpkg+11 | — | 68 patents Hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion and integrated power‑management/control systems | 1 partnership · 1 expansion |
| 4 | Expliseat Manufacturer of air plane seats | $20M | 12 mo ago | 30 | Benjamin Saada CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+28 | 3 signals ▲50% Funding · Announcements | 91 patents Shock‑absorbing, lightweight vehicle and aircraft seat structures with adjustable backrests | 1 job opening · 1 internship |
| 5 | Elixir Aircraft Manufacturer of business aircraft | $18M | 27 mo ago | 100 | Arthur Leopold-Leger CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | — | — | 2 launchs · 1 expansion |
| 6 | Dark Manufacturer of commercial aircraft | $17M | 21 mo ago | 23 | Guillaume Orvain Co-Founder & CTO | WixSentryBootstrap+9 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Aero Negoce International Distributor and stockist of aerospace fasteners and components, offering a wide range of products and… | $14M | 105 mo ago | 12 | Chikei Ho Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | — | — | — |
| 8 | MEMSCAP Manufacturer of high-precision MEMS-based sensors and devices | $13M | 309 mo ago | 61 | Jean Karam Chairman & CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+20 | 4 signals ▼20% Earnings | 32 patents High‑precision atomic clock modules and micro‑electromechanical accelerometer/gyro sensors. | — |
| 9 | Egide Developer of air defense and counter-unmanned systems for military applications | $9M | 2 mo ago | — | Florian Audigier Co-Founder & CTO | WixSentryProton Mail+13 | — | — | — |
| 10 | Cold Pad Offers ship repair and fastening services | $8M | 24 mo ago | 22 | Julien Bec CEO | Cart FunctionalityWix eCommerceWix+14 | — | 38 patents Adjustable-stiffness adhesive bonding layers for structural assembly and composite manufacturing | 1 job opening · 1 partnership |
| 11 | Airbus Defence and Space - Intelligence Provider of advanced geospatial intelligence solutions and services | $7M | 51 mo ago | 1,247 | Roser Roca Toha Managing Director & CEO | — | 9 signals Contracts · Earnings · M&A | — | — |
| 12 | MBDA Designer and producer missiles and systems | $7M | 54 mo ago | 14,000 | Eric Beranger CEO | DrupalApple iCloud MailPHP+14 | 10 signals ▲233% Announcements | 2 patents Missile balancing mechanisms and launch tube projectile adapter systems | — |
| 13 | STELIA Aerospace | $7M | 42 mo ago | 4,166 | — | WordPress Block EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+19 | — | 287 patents Advanced aircraft interior structural forming, bonding, and machining technologies | — |
| 14 | HyLight Builds and operates airships | $4M | 26 mo ago | — | Thomas Laporte Co-Founder | Webflow EcommerceWebflowcore-js+12 | — | 3 patents Hydrogen-filled aerostat pressure management systems for lift envelope control | — |
| 15 | Airseas Developer of automated kite system for reducing fuel consumption on ships | $3M | 57 mo ago | 126 | Vincent Bernatets Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+14 | — | 74 patents Kite‑based tethered wing propulsion systems for maritime and land carriage movement | 1 job opening |
| 16 | BirdyFish Manufacturer of foiling dinghies that aim to make foiling accessible to sailors | $2M | 18 mo ago | 10 | — | WordPressMySQLRedis+28 | — | — | 2 expansions |
| 17 | Iguana Yachts Manufacturer of electric boats | $2M | 105 mo ago | 36 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+29 | — | 19 patents Amphibious tracked vehicle systems and retractable drawbar mechanisms for marine‑land transport. | 2 launchs |
| 18 | ALSIM Manufacturer of aircraft parts | $2M | 78 mo ago | 66 | — | BreakdanceWordPressMySQL+17 | — | — | 2 job openings · 1 launch · 2 expansions |
| 19 | BlueNav Provider of ship designing services | $2M | 44 mo ago | 31 | Thomas Frouin Co-Founder | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+32 | — | 6 patents Hybrid marine propulsion and control systems for boats | 2 launchs |
| 20 | ATR Manufacturer of regional turboprop aircrafts | $2M | 58 mo ago | 26 | Nathalie Tarnaud Laude CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+25 | — | — | — |
| 21 | France Énergies Marines Developer of offshore wind energy R&D solutions | $2M | 46 mo ago | 63 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+26 | — | — | 1 job opening · 1 internship |
| 22 | IMM Provider of marine repair and project management services | $2M | 33 mo ago | — | Fabrice Maitre Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | — | — | 3 expansions |
| 23 | Ascenz Marorka Provider of digital solutions for the maritime industry, specializing in electronic bunker delivery… | $1M | 115 mo ago | 7 | Julien Glory CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+29 | — | — | — |
| 24 | FREGATE AERO Manufacturer of aircraft metal structures and subassemblies | $981K | 65 mo ago | — | Frederic Guimbal CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+18 | — | — | — |
| 25 | Potez Manufacturer of complex aerostructures, cabin interiors, and provider of industrial services | $973K | 65 mo ago | 358 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | — | — | — |
| 26 | NSE Groupe Manufacturer of condoms, lubricants, and sexual wellness products | $955K | 59 mo ago | 539 | Guillaume Laurin CEO & President | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | 3 signals ▼50% Earnings · M&A | — | 1 job opening |
| 27 | EXTREM’ VISION Designer and manufacture of defence & security equipment | $874K | 123 mo ago | 12 | Stephane Gouverneur Founder & Chairman | — | — | 6 patents Underwater propulsion devices and riot‑control protective shields | — |
| 28 | Cmn-Group Manufacturer of naval vessels and associated services | $610K | 60 mo ago | — | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | — | — | 1 expansion |
| 29 | DIADÈS MARINE Manufacturer of radar systems and maritime surveillance software | $413K | 45 mo ago | — | Olivier Lacrouts Founder & CEO | JoomlaPHPJava+8 | — | — | — |
| 30 | Lisi Aerospace Am Provider of additive manufacturing for aeronautics, defense, and space sectors | $291K | 42 mo ago | 21 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | — | 591 patents Aircraft nacelle access panel fastening systems and temporary fastener tooling | — |
| 31 | AERACCESS Provider of military grade UAV products and services | $265K | 97 mo ago | 12 | Shehzaad Callachand Founder & CEO | — | — | 2 patents Rotary‑wing drones featuring movable arm mechanisms for payload manipulation | — |
| 32 | Testia Provider of aerostructure inspections and engineering services | $232K | 42 mo ago | — | David Rottembourg CEO Testia Group | WordPressPleskMySQL+18 | — | — | — |
| 33 | TRAD Provider of radiative space environment services | $185K | 77 mo ago | 109 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | — | — | 2 job openings |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense companies in France
#1
Series B · Cugnaux, Occitanie · founded 2018 · 200 employees$57.8Mraised▾
Manufacturer of electric aircrafts
- Apr 2026Series B$57.8M
- Feb 2021Series A—
#2
Seed · Ris-Orangis, Ile-de-France · founded 2025$9.3Mraised▾
Developer of air defense and counter-unmanned systems for military applications. The company provides systems designed to defeat hostile drones and protect against unmanned surface threats. It offers solutions for neutralizing enemy air defense and delivering long-range effects. Its platform combines distributed sensors, AI-driven detection, and layered interception for protection against evolving threats.
- Mar 2026Seed$9.3M
#3
Series C · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2011 · 30 employees$19.6Mraised▾
Manufacturer of air plane seats
- Jun 2025Series C$41.2M
- Apr 2023Series B$18.7M
- Mar 2013Seed$846.2K
#4
Seed · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2021 · 23 employees$17Mraised▾
Manufacturer of commercial aircraft
#5
Seed · Saint-herblain, Loire-atlantique · founded 2018 · 10 employees$2.5Mraised▾
BirdyFish is a French company that specializes in the construction of foil boats. They offer dinghies equipped with retractable J-foils that allow sailors to experience the thrill of flying on the water. The company focuses on making foiling accessible to sailors of all levels.
- Nov 2024Seed$2.1M
- 2021Seed$398.6K
#6
Series B · Perigny, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2014 · 100 employees$18.2Mraised▾
Manufacturer of passenger planes designed to make private flights and flying lessons safer. The company specializes in two-seater aircraft that offer anti-deflagration fuel tanks, box-type structures, and an attached parachute as standard equipment along with a durable airframe design, enabling fliers to have a safe flying experience as per their preference.
- Feb 2024Series B$14.1M
- Sep 2021Grant (prize money)$58.2K
- Jan 2021Series A$3.6M
- Oct 2019Grant (prize money)$2.7M
#7
Series A · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2011 · 22 employees$7.5Mraised▾
Offers ship repair and fastening services
- Jun 2024Series A$7.5M
- Mar 2022Grant (prize money)$2.8M
#8
Series B · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2017 · 50 employees$34.4Mraised▾
Developer of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aircraft. It designs and manufactures hybrid-electric propulsion technology for use in various aircraft, including passenger transport, medical, and cargo applications. The company also develops and produces electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Its focus is on providing sustainable and efficient solutions for the aviation industry, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution. The company offers both its propulsion systems to other manufacturers and its own line of aircraft.
- Mar 2023Series B$22.6M
- Sep 2021Series A$11.8M
#9
Series A · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2022$4Mraised▾
HyLight is a company that specializes in building and operating autonomous airships for long-range monitoring. They focus on detecting methane leaks on pipelines and defects on power lines. Their goal is to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions for inspecting assets.
#10
Acquired · Brive la Gaillarde, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2004 · 1000 employees$53.3Mraised▾
Diversified conglomerate operating across multiple industries
- Apr 2015Convertible Debt$29.4M
- Jun 2014Conventional Debt$42.4M
- Apr 2014Conventional Debt$26.6M
- Dec 2012PE$23.9M
#11
Funding Raised · Rochefort, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2015 · 4166 employees$6.6Mraised▾
- Dec 2022Grant (prize money)$228.5K
- Oct 2021Grant (prize money)$1.8M
- Dec 2016Grant (prize money)$4.6M
#12
Funding Raised · France · founded 1986 · 1247 employees$7.4Mraised▾
Provider of advanced geospatial intelligence solutions and services. These solutions leverage satellite imagery, sensor data, and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights. The services offered include data processing, analysis, and visualization, supporting various applications. Expertise lies in developing tailored geospatial intelligence products for specific customer needs. The focus is on providing accurate, timely, and relevant information to support decision-making. This includes the development of custom algorithms and models for specific geospatial challenges. The company's offerings are designed to meet the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.
- Feb 2022Grant (prize money)$428.6K
- Jan 2022Grant (prize money)$745.5K
- Dec 2021Grant (prize money)$614.3K
- Mar 2021Grant (prize money)$1.2M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Defense Technology is moving in France
A read on the academic research around Defense Technology — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 32 France-affiliated papers.
- Thales15
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique8
- Laboratoire des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information de la Communication et de la Connaissance8
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale7
- Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble3
- Electronic engineering3
- Wideband2
- Bandwidth (computing)2
- Radio frequency2
- Broadband2
- Electronic warfare12
- Radar9
- Context (archaeology)7
- Jamming3
- Cluster analysis2
- Interference (communication)2
- Communications system2
- Electromagnetic interference2
- Nuclear weapon1
- Sovereignty1
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.