Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in China
The 266 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in China in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: XPENG AEROHT.
China's Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector is where the money is moving fast right now, and our directory tracks 266 companies across it, ranked by disclosed equity funding and recent momentum. Total disclosed funding hits $5.5B, with Beijing Space Pioneer Technology ($415M) and Galactic Energy ($405M) leading the pack, and three unicorns anchoring the top tier. That's a concentrated bet on sovereign capability, and you can feel the urgency behind every round.
The global market sits at roughly $1076.6B, forecast to hold that scale through 2027 at a 5.9% CAGR, driven by growing state investments and a sharp rise in vendor-led technical outreach. So the China cohort isn't operating in a vacuum. Median app install growth across defense, maritime and aerospace platforms is running at about +15% YoY across 68 tracked apps, which tells me digital engagement in the sector is genuinely accelerating, not just headline noise. Hot themes right now include next-generation platforms, EV powertrain integration, and the geopolitical alliances reshaping procurement decisions globally. Investors like QF Capital, Shunwei Capital and Zhen Fund are the ones writing the checks here. Worth watching closely.
- prnewswire.com
Our analysis of 50 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies
$31.9b in tracked funding; 90% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2021.
Ranked: Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in China
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Employees | Founded | Founder | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XPENG AEROHT 🦄 Provider of smart electric aircraft 84Growth top 15%Moat top 15%Funding top 26%News top 32% All 8 signals ▾Growthtop 15% Moattop 15% Fundingtop 26% Newstop 32% Talenttop 35% Markettop 37% Techtop 48% Globalbottom 36% Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 9/10 · Unicorn rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 84/100 | $650M | 22 mo ago | Series B | 700 | 2013 | Zhao Deli Co-Founder | — | — |
| 2 | Beijing Zhonghangzhi Technology Industrial company that develops drones, helicopters, and other products | $459M | 36 mo ago | Series D | — | 2012 | Tian Gangyin Founder | — | — |
| 3 | Beijing Space Pioneer Technology Developer of launch vehicles for large payloads | $415M | 8 mo ago | Series D | 120 | 2015 | Kang Yonglai Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 4 | Galactic Energy Manufacturer of commercial launch vehicles for small payloads | $405M | 8 mo ago | Series D | 100 | 2018 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Casicloud Cybersecurity suite solutions provider | $405M | 63 mo ago | Series D | 1,600 | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 6 | Landspace Develops launch vehicle systems | $335M | 69 mo ago | Series C | 400 | 2016 | Changwu Zhang Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 7 | Antwork Provider of drone-based delivery solutions | $319M | 43 mo ago | Series B | 40 | 2015 | Lei Zhang Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 8 | United Aircraft Technology Developer of multi-utility drones | $291M | 39 mo ago | Series D | 600 | 2014 | — | 18 patents Helicopter main rotor drive mechanisms and control systems | — |
| 9 | iSpace Developer and provider of commercial launch vehicles and launch solutions | $273M | 4 mo ago | Series D | 200 | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 10 | XAG Manufacturer of agricultural drones, robots, autopilot consoles, and smart farm systems | $248M | 32 mo ago | Series C | 1,370 | 2007 | Bin Peng Co-Founder | 4 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | 2 launchs |
| 11 | UnionTech Provider of SLA based industrial 3D printing systems | $229M | 45 mo ago | Acquired | 190 | 2000 | — | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 12 | Orienspace Developer of launch vehicles and related engines for space access | $144M | 28 mo ago | Series B | 70 | 2020 | Yao Song Co-Founder & Co-CEO | — | — |
| 13 | OneSpaceChina Satellite launch vehicle | $116M | 69 mo ago | Series C | 140 | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 14 | DJI 🦄 Manufacturer of camera drones, handheld devices, and related lifestyle technology | $105M | 29 mo ago | Series B | 14,000 | 2006 | Frank Tao Founder & CEO | 10,015 patents UAV flight control, aerial imaging stabilization, and onboard audio/video processing technologies. | 2 launchs |
| 15 | CAS Space Provider of solutions for mission launch services | $87M | 37 mo ago | Series C | — | 2018 | Yiqiang Yang Founder | 105 patents Ultra‑low‑light, time‑resolved single‑photon imaging and multi‑spectral photon detection systems. | — |
| 16 | Clobotics Provides drone data management solutions | $84M | 63 mo ago | Series A | 11 | 2016 | Mads Rasmussen Managing director | — | — |
| 17 | Yunzhou Technology Developer of unmanned ships | $83M | 89 mo ago | Series C | 463 | 2010 | — | 3 patents Patents concentrated in its core technology | — |
| 18 | Laser Link Provider of laser communication solutions and related optical and mechanical products | $72M | 3 mo ago | Series C | — | 2018 | Yan Zhixin Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 19 | Beijing Lingkong Tianxing Technology Developer of specialized software and total solutions for flight systems | $61M | 46 mo ago | Series A | — | 2018 | Wang Yudong Founder | — | — |
| 20 | Volant Aerotech Developer of electric VTOL aircraft 35Funding top 27%Moat top 31%Talent bottom 49%Market bottom 40% All 5 signals ▾Fundingtop 27% Moattop 31% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 40% Globalbottom 36% Funding: Raised $56.4M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 5 yrs (0.8/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · Soonicorn rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100 | $56M | 1 mo ago | Series C | — | 2021 | Wei Yu Co-Founder | — | — |
| 21 | Ehang Developer of autonomous aerial vehicles and related command and control systems 60Funding top 31%Tech top 37%Growth top 42%Market top 46% All 8 signals ▾Fundingtop 31% Techtop 37% Growthtop 42% Markettop 46% Newstop 46% Moattop 48% Talentbottom 49% Globalbottom 46% Funding: Raised $52.0M across 6 rounds · 6 rounds over 12 yrs (0.5/yr) Tech: 35 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Akamai, Amazon Web Services rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 60/100 | $52M | 19 mo ago | Public | 367 | 2014 | Yifang Xiong Co-Founder | — | — |
| 22 | Changguang Satellite Technology Provider of satellite components and satellite-born optical cameras | $37M | 92 mo ago | Seed | 587 | 2014 | — | 3 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | — |
| 23 | Shareco In-flight entertainment and communication solutions provider | $32M | 132 mo ago | Series B | — | 2012 | Pan Yunbin CEO | — | — |
| 24 | Deep Blue Provider of underwater robots | $32M | 71 mo ago | Series B | 400 | 2013 | — | — | — |
| 25 | Deep Blue Aerospace Developer of liquid-propellant rocket engines and reusable launch vehicle technologies | $32M | 15 mo ago | Series B | 100 | 2016 | Huo Liang Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 26 | Zero UAV Designs & manufactures UAVs for high quality aerial photography and autopilot systems | $31M | 116 mo ago | Series B | — | 2009 | Jianjun Yang Founder & CEO | 4 patents Redundant UAV flight control systems and gyroscope‑based stabilization hardware | — |
| 27 | Suzhou Extreme Robot Technology Provider of drones having applications in multiple industries | $30M | 61 mo ago | Series C | 200 | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 28 | Meridian Innovation Manufacturer of thermal imaging sensors for consumer and commercial applications 29Product top 35%Funding top 37%Talent top 38%Moat top 39% All 7 signals ▾Producttop 35% Fundingtop 37% Talenttop 38% Moattop 39% Globalbottom 36% Marketbottom 34% Newsbottom 18% Product: 2 published apps (1.6k installs) · Company stage: Series C Funding: Raised $28.5M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 7 yrs (0.6/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 29/100 | $28M | 20 mo ago | Series C | 28 | 2016 | Hock Leow Co-Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 29 | Vertaxi Developer of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) 22Funding top 42%Talent bottom 49%Market bottom 37%Global bottom 29% All 4 signals ▾Fundingtop 42% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 37% Globalbottom 29% Funding: Raised $28.2M across 2 rounds · 2 rounds over 2 yrs (1.0/yr) Talent: 1 named leader on record · 1 C-suite/founder profile curated rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 22/100 | $28M | 5 mo ago | Series A | — | 2021 | Xie Ling Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 30 | Zero Gravity Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft 29Funding top 34%Moat top 48%Talent bottom 49%Market bottom 40% All 6 signals ▾Fundingtop 34% Moattop 48% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 40% Globalbottom 29% Newsbottom 27% Funding: Raised $28.0M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 3 yrs (1.3/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 4/10 · 10 curated direct competitors tracked rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 29/100 | $28M | 2 mo ago | Series A | — | 2021 | Li Yiheng CEO | — | — |
| 31 | ePropulsion Distributor of electric outboard motors and propulsion systems | $25M | 54 mo ago | Series B | 250 | 2012 | Shizheng Tao Co-Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 32 | ORCA-TECH Manufacturer of unmanned surface vessels for cleaning and leisure applications 48Funding top 29%Moat top 39%Market top 47%Global bottom 36% All 4 signals ▾Fundingtop 29% Moattop 39% Markettop 47% Globalbottom 36% Funding: Raised $22.9M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 9 yrs (0.4/yr) Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · 9 curated direct competitors tracked rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 48/100 | $23M | 3 mo ago | Series B | 70 | 2017 | — | — | — |
| 33 | Zerotech Develops drones for consumer and commercial purposes | $22M | 93 mo ago | Deadpooled | — | 2007 | Yang Jianjun Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 34 | ANNGIC Provider of millimetre-wave radar sensors for monitoring traffic | $21M | 44 mo ago | Series C | 150 | 2014 | — | — | — |
| 35 | Xiangji Technology Big data platform to analyze and process data | $18M | 26 mo ago | Series C | 20 | 2014 | Lin Zhong Co-Founder | 5 patents Flexible 3D forming equipment for shaping workpieces and ping‑pong training devices | — |
| 36 | Xihua Technology Provider of in-space manufacturing services for space systems | $16M | 49 mo ago | Series A | — | 2017 | — | 41 patents Optical transport network bandwidth management and routing control for lossless ODUflex services | — |
| 37 | Boonray Provides solutions for management of data collected from drones | $15M | 58 mo ago | Series A | 30 | 2016 | — | — | — |
| 38 | Boya Gongdao Provider of underwater robots | $15M | 72 mo ago | Series C | 40 | 2015 | — | 18 patents Compact personal underwater propulsion systems and small unmanned submersibles. | — |
| 39 | Maifei Technology Provider of disease and pest monitoring solutions | $15M | 86 mo ago | Series A | 300 | 2016 | Gong Huaze Co-Founder | — | — |
| 40 | Boundary.AI Developer of AI-based autonomous flight systems | $15M | 1 mo ago | Series B | — | 2020 | Haimin Weng Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 41 | Beijing Ruixinfeng Technology Provides development and production of wireless communication systems | $15M | 83 mo ago | Deadpooled | 200 | 2013 | — | — | — |
| 42 | Edrive Space Developer of aerospace propulsion systems for space satellite applications | $14M | 37 mo ago | Series B | — | 2020 | Yan Shen Founder | — | — |
| 43 | Benewake Developer of commercial LiDAR for Robots | $14M | 31 mo ago | Series C | 200 | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 44 | Simtoo Develops a drone for consumer photography purposes | $14M | 115 mo ago | Deadpooled | — | 2011 | Aaron Zhang CEO | — | — |
| 45 | ExploMar Operator of electric power-train systems for water mobility applications | $10M | 6 mo ago | Series A | 25 | 2024 | Alex Dong Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 46 | Wynyard Group Cloud-based integrated cyber forensics and threat analysis solutions | $10M | 111 mo ago | Public | 20 | 2012 | — | — | — |
| 47 | Beehive Technology Develops drones for agricultural spraying, and offers spraying services | $9M | 104 mo ago | Deadpooled | — | 2015 | Wu Guoning CEO | — | — |
| 48 | Origin of space Offers space exploration services and utilization of space resources | $7M | 80 mo ago | Seed | — | 2017 | Tianhong Yu Cofounder & Chief Operations Officer | — | — |
| 49 | Chasing Manufacturer of remotely operated underwater vehicles and related accessories | $4M | 3 mo ago | Series C | — | 2000 | Johnson Zhang Founder & CEO | — | — |
| 50 | Aheadx Designs & manufactures drones for consumer application | $2M | 7 mo ago | Seed | — | 2014 | Li Xiaoyu CEO | — | — |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in China
#1
Series D · Beijing, Beijing · founded 2016 · 200 employees$273Mraised▾
iSpace develops and provides commercial launch vehicles and launch solutions. The product portfolio includes Hyperbola-1 (a small solid rocket that uses four-stage tandem configuration, operates in a low-earth orbit, and carries a capacity of 300kg), Hyperbola-3 (LEO based two-stage reusable liquid carrier rocket/launch vehicle with a diameter of 2.5m and a total length of 38m), and sub-orbital travel concept spaceship. The company claims its launch vehicles to have multiple features including low cost, fast response, and flexibility. Additionally, the company also provides launch services to its customers. Clientele includes SpaceX, NASA, ESA, Blue Origin, etc.
- Feb 2026Series D$729.3M
- Sep 2024Series C$99M
- Aug 2020Series B$174M
- Jul 2019Series A—
#2
Series C · Shanghai, Shanghai · founded 2021$56.4Mraised▾
Developer of electric VTOL aircraft. The cpompany offers features like integrated avionics system, collision avoidance, airborne maintenance, and more.
- Apr 2026Series C$300M
- Oct 2025Series B—
- Aug 2024Series A—
- Jun 2024Series A$13.8M
#3
Series D · Beijing, Beijing · founded 2018 · 100 employees$405.1Mraised▾
Manufacturer of commercial launch vehicles for small payloads. It has developed solid and liquid propellant launch vehicles, which are carrier rockets for the narrow-band IoT-based network construction and constellation supplement launches. Its in-house engines portfolio includes liquid-propellant engines that are reusable open cycle kerosene engines with variable thrusts, and solid propellant engines with variable thrusts. It also offers launching services with multiple launch plan options.
- Sep 2025Series D$337M
- Dec 2023Series C$154.5M
- Dec 2021Series B$199.9M
- Sep 2020Series A$29.3M
#4
Series D · Fengtai, Beijing · founded 2015 · 120 employees$414.7Mraised▾
Developer of launch vehicles for large payloads. It provides users with building launching systems for large payloads, such as satellites, spacecraft and supplies. Its features include a liquid rocket engine, launch schedules, and transportation solutions.
- Oct 2025Series D$351M
- Jun 2024Series C$207M
- Oct 2023Series C—
- Jul 2023Series C—
#5
Series C · Yangpu, Shanghai · founded 2018$72Mraised▾
Provider of laser communication solutions and related optical and mechanical products. The company specializes in precision optical and mechanical products for aerospace applications. It offers expertise in laser communication link and network technology. The company also provides terminal technology, capture tracking, and ground testing services.
- Mar 2026Series C$72M
#6
Series A · Hefei, Anhui · founded 2021$28Mraised▾
Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. It offers a range of aircraft models with different specifications and payload capacities. It caters to commercial and personal applications.
- Mar 2026Series A$21.7M
- Sep 2025Series A$42.1M
- Aug 2024Series A$14.1M
- Aug 2023Seed—
#7
Series B · Xi An, Shaanxi Sheng · founded 2017 · 70 employees$22.9Mraised▾
Manufacturer of unmanned surface vessels for cleaning and leisure applications. The company provides autonomous boats designed for water surface cleaning, water quality monitoring, and aquatic plant harvesting. It also develops intelligent cruising boats intended for cultural tourism and waterside experiences. The vessels feature autonomous driving capabilities and are designed to create new business opportunities on the water.
- Mar 2026Series B$27.4M
- Jan 2024Series B$14M
- May 2022Series A$7.4M
- Aug 2020Series A$1.4M
#8
Series B · Shenzhen, Guangdong Province · founded 2020$14.7Mraised▾
Developer of AI-based autonomous flight systems. It designs and develops autonomous flight systems and avionics for diverse aircraft platforms. Its products can be integrated into eVTOL, STOL, and CTOL aircraft. It also offers flight control and navigation systems.
- Apr 2026Series B$14.7M
- Jul 2024Series A—
- May 2023Seed—
#9
Series A · Zhuhai, Guangdong Province · founded 2021$28.2Mraised▾
Developer of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). The company focuses on creating safe, cost-effective, and sustainable eVTOL aircraft. The aim is to provide urban air mobility solutions. The firm develops flight control technology and pursues domestic sourcing for core components. It emphasizes safety through redundant designs and autonomous flight modes.
- Dec 2025Series A$13.9M
- Sep 2024Series A$28.2M
#10
Series B · Tianhe, Guangdong Province · founded 2013 · 700 employees$650Mraised▾
Developer and manufacturer of UAM (Urban Air Mobility) technology and hybrid flying cars for both road and air. The company is committed to creating the world's safest smart electric flying car, allowing flying cars to enter the family and making travel more affordable and convenient.
#11
Series C · Shenzhen, Guangdong Province · founded 2000$3.5Mraised▾
Manufacturer of remotely operated underwater vehicles and related accessories. These vehicles support various applications, including aquaculture, hull inspection, emergency rescue, and scientific exploration. The company provides support through forums, news, and user stories. It also offers opportunities to become a dealer and provides related policies.
- Mar 2026Series C$14M
- Aug 2022Series B—
- Apr 2019Series A$3M
- 2017Seed$500K
#12
Series A · Shanghai, Shanghai Shi · founded 2024 · 25 employees$10Mraised▾
Operator of electric power-train systems for water mobility applications. The company develops electric outboards, batteries, controlling systems, and charging solutions. It utilizes sustainable energy and information technology in its power-train systems. The company aims to provide users with an eco-friendly experience on the water.
- Nov 2025Series A$10M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Launch Vehicles is moving in China
A read on the academic research around Launch Vehicles — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 840 China-affiliated papers.
- Northwestern Polytechnical University138
- Beihang University112
- Nanjing University of Science and Technology52
- National University of Defense Technology48
- Beijing Institute of Technology44
- Aerospace engineering8→19
- Rocket engine5→14
- Rocket (weapon)5→14
- Liquid-propellant rocket1→8
- Control theory (sociology)5→12
- Aeronautics14→24
- Mach number2→8
- Liquid-propellant rocket25→31
- Propulsion6→12
- Plume3→8
- Nozzle1→4
- Liquid-propellant rocket2→5
Where launch vehicles is researched across China
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing launch vehicles patents in China
China launch vehicles patent filing is accelerating — 48 filings from 36 assignees (2019–2025), led by XIAN Aerospace Propulsion Instit, XIAN Aerospace Propulsion Testin, XIAN Aerospace Propulsion TEST T; annual filings 1→10.
- XIAN Aerospace Propulsion Instit7
- XIAN Aerospace Propulsion Testin7
- XIAN Aerospace Propulsion TEST T6
- China Beifang Industry6
- UNIV Dalian TECH5
- Naval UNIV Of Engineering5
- XIAN Space Engine Company4
- Beijing Interstellar Glory Space3
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.