Best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech Companies in France
The 366 best Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in France in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Parrot.
France's Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech sector earns a proper ranking here: 366 companies tracked, $1.4B in disclosed funding, zero unicorns, and every reason to look closer. The global market sits at $1076.6B with a 5.9% CAGR, driven by growing defense investment and geopolitical realignments that are reshaping procurement priorities fast. Univity leads our directory at $68M raised. Infinite Orbits and Leanspace each cleared the $9-13M range. So the question isn't whether France has aerospace ambition, it's whether the funding matches it yet.
I'd argue the gap between disclosed capital and actual sector scale is the most interesting number here. Median app install growth across maritime, defense and space categories is running at roughly 15% year-over-year across 68 tracked apps, which tells you demand is moving well ahead of what funding rounds advertise. Bpifrance and the EIC Fund anchor the investor side, with Starburst adding specialist aerospace exposure. You won't find a unicorn in this cohort, but you will find a dense, technically serious field where next-generation platforms and defense-linked themes are pulling real capital into companies that haven't made the mainstream radar yet.
- 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 France
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Web popularity | Market signals (1y) | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parrot Manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles and related software and solutions | $320M | 115 mo ago | 542 | Christine Tourvel Co-Founder | DiscourseRubyRuby on Rails+11 | Top 1M | — | 615 patents Advanced consumer drone flight control, stabilization, and liquid lens imaging technologies. | 3 launchs · 1 award |
| 2 | Flying Whales Manufacturer and operator of large-capacity cargo airships | $139M | 47 mo ago | 191 | Sebastien Bougon Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+15 | Top 5M | — | 156 patents Heavy‑lift electric airships with composite rigid frames and advanced ground‑handling systems | 1 internship · 1 partnership · 1 award |
| 3 | UnseenLabs Provider of satellite-based surveillance and monitoring services | $125M | 27 mo ago | 70 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | Top 10M | — | 9 patents Autonomous satellite tasking for target identification and integrated standard electronic payloads | — |
| 4 | Arianespace Developer of launch vehicles for diversified payloads | $111M | 65 mo ago | 311 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | Top 5M | — | — | 3 launchs |
| 5 | Exotrail Provider of electric propulsion systems and in-orbit services for spacecraft | $75M | 40 mo ago | 106 | Jean-Luc Maria CEO - Cofounder | WebflowApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+12 | Top 5M | — | 7 patents Hall-effect ion thruster cathodes with magnetic compensation for electric spacecraft propulsion | 1 partnership · 1 expansion |
| 6 | Univity Developer of space infrastructure providing high-speed, low-latency connectivity to telecom operators | $68M | 1 mo ago | — | Charles Delfieux CEO | WebflowSwiperjQuery+10 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
| 7 | Latitude Provider of dedicated launch services for small satellite deployment to orbit | $55M | 23 mo ago | 63 | Kevin Monvoisin Co-Founder & Director of Global Services | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | Top 5M | — | 8 patents Advanced propulsion and avionics for space launchers: cooled nozzles, ignition, communication, sequencing. | 1 partnership |
| 8 | Beyond Aero Developer of electric business aircraft using hydrogen propulsion systems | $48M | 19 mo ago | 31 | Hugo Tarle Co-Founder & COO | Node.jsThree.jsReact+14 | Top 10M | — | — | 2 partnerships · 1 award |
| 9 | CLS Group Provider of diversified satellite-based services | $40M | 54 mo ago | 900 | Christophe Vassal CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+28 | Top 5M | — | — | 1 launch |
| 10 | Ayro Manufacturer of wind-powered propulsion systems for the maritime sector | $33M | 32 mo ago | 42 | — | — | — | — | 38 patents Marine wind‑driven propulsion systems integrating sails and turbine units for vessels | 1 award |
| 11 | VoltAero Developer of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation applications and related services | $32M | 36 mo ago | 22 | Marina Evans Co-Founder & Director General | WordPressMySQLPHP+17 | Top 10M | — | 34 patents Hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion systems integrating engine and powertrain control | — |
| 12 | Aldoria Provider of space surveillance data and orbital information system services | $24M | 28 mo ago | — | Damien Giolito Co-Founder | WordPressApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+15 | Top 50M | — | 6 patents Object trajectory detection for maritime navigation using imaging and sensor fusion | — |
| 13 | Preligens Developer of AI and cloud-enabled satellite imagery services for surveillance and monitoring | $24M | 66 mo ago | 227 | Arnaud Guerin Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — | — | 4 partnerships |
| 14 | Thales Alenia Space Designing and manufacturing of satellites and space systems | $22M | 54 mo ago | 8,500 | Pierre Desmaele CEO | Node.jsNext.jsGSAP+16 | Top 5M | — | 13 patents Detection kits for surface bio‑contamination using microbiological assay cartridges | 2 launchs · 1 partnership · 1 expansion |
| 15 | Drone Volt UAV manufacturer for professional uses 60Product top 19%Funding top 30%Innovation top 38%Talent top 38% All 10 signals ▾Producttop 19% Fundingtop 30% Innovationtop 38% Talenttop 38% Globaltop 41% Techtop 45% Markettop 48% Newstop 48% Growthbottom 47% Partnersbottom 34% Product: 3 distinct product lines · Company stage: Public Funding: Raised $19.6M across 3 rounds · 3 rounds over 9 yrs (0.3/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 60/100 | $20M | 1 mo ago | — | Dimitri Batsis Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+35 | Top 5M | 7 signals ▼71% Earnings · Contracts · Announcements | — | 1 launch · 3 partnerships |
| 16 | Delair Aerial-imagery services using proprietary drones | $17M | 72 mo ago | 105 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+31 | Top 5M | — | 2 patents Improved fixed-wing drone control and autonomous landing systems. | 1 partnership |
| 17 | Infinite Orbits Operator of spacecraft providing life extension and in-orbit services | $13M | 7 mo ago | 33 | Manos Koumandakis Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer | WixSentryApple iCloud Mail+13 | Top 10M | 3 signals Funding · Capital raise | 5 patents Autonomous vision‑based navigation systems for satellite attitude and orbit control | 1 job opening · 2 expansions · 1 award |
| 18 | Spinergie Cloud based predictive analytics solutions for oil and gas industry | $12M | 47 mo ago | 44 | — | WebflowGSAPHubSpot+15 | Top 10M | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 19 | Diginext Provider of simulation solutions for tactical operation training and analysis | $11M | 81 mo ago | — | Thomas Fourquet CEO & Director | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | ArianeGroup Provider of space mission launch services | $11M | 31 mo ago | 8,000 | Thibault Cheviron Chairman & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+15 | Top 1M | 3 signals Leadership · Contracts | 19 patents Space crew escape seat modules and cryogenic gas liquefaction systems | 1 partnership |
| 21 | Leanspace Provider of software platform for satellite and ground segment operations | $9M | 6 mo ago | 41 | Alvaro Ruiz Co-Founder & CCO | WordPressZohoMySQL+29 | Top 50M | — | — | — |
| 22 | Metavonics Developer of modular avionics hardware and software for aircraft systems | $9M | 3 mo ago | — | Mohamed Eladl Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+19 | Top 50M | — | 4 patents Modular multi-protocol communication gateways for line‑replaceable telecom equipment | — |
| 23 | Elistair Manufacturer of tethered drone systems for surveillance and communication applications | $8M | 32 mo ago | 50 | Guilhem de Marliave Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLZoho+25 | Top 5M | — | 27 patents Wire‑connected drone power and docking protection systems for autonomous landing | — |
| 24 | CerbAir Provider of technology for real-time detection and neutralization of drones | $8M | 54 mo ago | 33 | — | WebflowVimeocore-js+14 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
| 25 | XSun Provider of solar-powered autonomous UAVs for multiple applications | $8M | 45 mo ago | 21 | Benjamin David XSun CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+14 | Top 50M | — | 7 patents Solar-powered tandem‑wing aerial drones integrating photovoltaic cells for sustained flight | — |
| 26 | Unistellar Developer of telescopes, binoculars, and related accessories for astronomical observation | $8M | 26 mo ago | 44 | Antonin Borot Co-Founder & CPTO | WordPressProton MailUnbounce+33 | Top 5M | — | 55 patents Portable astronomical imaging systems with automated celestial object localization and turbulence estimation | — |
| 27 | Azur Drones Provider of drone flight solutions using proprietary drones | $8M | 41 mo ago | 75 | — | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+20 | Top 10M | — | 12 patents Automated parachute health monitoring, drone charging/landing systems, restricted‑area surveillance. | 2 partnerships |
| 28 | Sinay Provider of AI-powered marine data tracking solutions | $7M | 37 mo ago | 89 | Yanis Souami CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+35 | Top 5M | 3 signals M&A | 15 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | — |
| 29 | U-Space Developer of small satellite solutions, from preliminary studies to operations support | $7M | 7 mo ago | 60 | Antoine Ressouche Co-Founder & CTO | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | Top 10M | — | 8 patents Space-based planetary remote sensing using orbiting observation satellites | — |
| 30 | Donecle Provider of automated drone-based inspection solutions for aircraft and aerospace components 35Talent top 28%Product top 30%Funding top 38%Moat top 38% All 10 signals ▾Talenttop 28% Producttop 30% Fundingtop 38% Moattop 38% Innovationtop 39% Patentstop 41% Newsbottom 45% Globalbottom 40% Marketbottom 35% Techbottom 15% Talent: 4 named leaders on record · 4 C-suite/founder profiles curated Product: 12 distinct product lines · Company stage: Series B rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 35/100 | $7M | 2 mo ago | 22 | Matthieu Claybrough Co-Founder | — | — | — | 31 patents Autonomous aerial 3D surface mapping and inspection for industrial asset monitoring | 3 partnerships |
| 31 | Anywaves Develops antenna systems for small satellites and UAVs | $5M | 42 mo ago | 28 | — | — | — | — | 18 patents Deployable antenna structures and 3D dielectric RF components for mobile electromagnetic wave conversion. | — |
| 32 | Thrustme Developer of electric propulsion systems and scientific instruments for spacecraft | $5M | 46 mo ago | 30 | Dmytro Rafalskyi Co-Founder & CTO | RubyAnimate.cssVarnish+13 | Top 10M | — | 22 patents Miniaturized cold‑gas and RF plasma thrusters for small‑satellite propulsion systems | — |
| 33 | Bluefins Developing zero fuel auxiliary propulsion systems based on a wave energy converting technology | $4M | 20 mo ago | — | Olivier Giusti Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+26 | Top 50M | — | 5 patents Wave-driven marine propulsion technology for ships and offshore vessels. | — |
| 34 | Abelio Provider of tech-enabled farming services to farmers and cooperatives | $4M | 33 mo ago | 25 | Gregoire Dupre CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+22 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
| 35 | Smart Airport Systems Provider of ground support solutions for aviation, reducing emissions and fuel consumption | $4M | 56 mo ago | — | Maxime Mahieu CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+15 | Top 50M | — | — | — |
| 36 | Comand Developer of AI-powered command software for defense and security operations | $3M | 18 mo ago | 3 | — | WebflowjQueryHotjar+10 | Top 10M | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 37 | Alseamar Underwater robotics and underwater positioning equipment | $3M | 41 mo ago | — | Thibaud Bezacier Chief Executive Officer | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+19 | Top 10M | — | 17 patents Underwater vehicle launch, power storage, autonomous glider, and sub‑sea communication systems | 2 job openings |
| 38 | Skynopy Operator of a ground station network service for satellite communications | $3M | 11 mo ago | — | Pierre Bertrand Co-Founder & CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+18 | Top 50M | — | — | 1 expansion |
| 39 | UAVIA Provider of autonomous drone operations platform for industrial use | $2M | 54 mo ago | 36 | Pierre Vilpoux Chairman & CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+17 | Top 50M | — | 27 patents Autonomous drones integrating wind sensors, navigation data conversion, and command/video telemetry. | 1 launch |
| 40 | Estuaire Developer of decarbonization software and data solutions for the aviation industry | $2M | 23 mo ago | 5 | Maxime Meijers Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | — | — | 1 job opening · 1 launch |
| 41 | Ewake AI powered platform focused on revolutionizing incident resolution for engineering and support teams in the… | $2M | 8 mo ago | — | Omid Gosha Co-Founder | Framer SitesApple iCloud MailReact+10 | Top 50M | — | — | — |
| 42 | OpenAirlines Software for flight operations, crew and fleet management, and fuel saving | $2M | 19 mo ago | 69 | Alexandre Feray Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+23 | Top 50M | — | — | — |
| 43 | Alta Ares Developer of AI-powered drone detection and recognition solutions | $2M | 13 mo ago | — | Stanislas Walch Co-Founder & COO | WordPressMySQLPHP+16 | Top 5M | — | — | 2 partnerships |
| 44 | Gama Manufacturer of spacecraft | $2M | 50 mo ago | 18 | Andrew Nutter Co-Founder | WebflowTypekitGoogle Font API+9 | Top 50M | — | — | 1 job opening |
| 45 | Miratlas Provider of atmospheric characterization instruments, data, and modeling for optical communication | $2M | 49 mo ago | 12 | Jean-Edouard Communal Co-Founder & CEO | WordPress Block EditorCart FunctionalityWordPress+23 | Top 50M | — | 2 patents Astronomical seeing measurement using compact differential image motion sensors | 2 launchs · 1 partnership |
| 46 | SkyVisor Provider of drone based autonomous industrial inspection tool for wind turbines and solar plants | $1M | 17 mo ago | 7 | Fabien Sauvage Co-Founder & CTO | — | — | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 47 | HyPrSpace Developer of hybrid rocket engine technology for scalable launch options | $1M | 6 mo ago | 32 | Vincent Rocher Co-Founder | WordPress Block EditorElementorWordPress+16 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
| 48 | GRASP Earth Provider of satellite payloads for Earth Observation (EO) remote sensing and environmental sciences | $821K | 30 mo ago | — | David Fuertes Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+22 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
| 49 | eyeGauge Provider of IoT-based solution for building energy management | $575K | 30 mo ago | 6 | Viktoriia Kobenko Co-founder & CTO | — | — | — | 9 patents Rotating shaft torque/thrust measurement and AI-driven non‑intrusive equipment condition monitoring. | — |
| 50 | Tornyol Manufacturer of autonomous micro-drones | $500K | 8 mo ago | — | Clovis Piedallu Co-Founder | Radix UIReactReact Router+10 | Top 10M | — | — | — |
Top 12 Aerospace, Maritime and Defense Tech companies in France
#1
Series A · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2022$67.9Mraised▾
Developer of space infrastructure providing high-speed, low-latency connectivity to telecom operators. The company focuses on enabling telecom operators to deliver next-generation services. It develops satellite technology to address connectivity needs across various markets. The company’s satellite architecture aims to redefine space-based broadband, offering enhanced connectivity. The infrastructure offers cost-effective broadband services and user terminals.
- Apr 2026Series A$31.7M
- Sep 2025Grant (prize money)$36.2M
#2
Public · Villepinte, Ile de France · founded 2011$19.6Mraised▾
DRONEVOLT designs and manufactures drones for professional purposes. The company is present in France,Canada and Denmark.Its customers include TF1, France TV, Bouygues, CNRS, Figaro, the Ministry of Defense, SPIE, RAID etc. DRONEVOLT is also a service provider of aerial photography by drone and is also present in many other fields such as security, inspection etc.The company is developing sector-specific drones adapted to many sectors such as television, cinema, architecture, engineering structure control etc. It also has a pilot training center for professional drone. It filed IPO in April 2015.
- May 2026Post IPO$3.6M
- Jul 2025Post IPO$11.7M
- Dec 2017Post IPO$4.4M
#3
Series B · Labege, Occitanie · founded 2015 · 22 employees$6.9Mraised▾
Provider of automated drone-based inspection solutions for aircraft and aerospace components. The company offers a system using autonomous drones and image analysis for defect detection. This technology supports inspections of aircraft, landing gear, and engines. The solution aims to improve inspection speed, consistency, and traceability. It provides digital records and reporting capabilities for various inspection types.
- Apr 2026Series B$11.8M
- Oct 2023Series A$5.9M
- Jan 2019Grant (prize money)$574.6K
- 2016Seed$1.1M
#4
Series A · Toulouse, Occitanie · founded 2021$8.6Mraised▾
Developer of modular avionics hardware and software for aircraft systems. The company provides pre-certified hardware solutions designed for the aviation industry. It offers software tools intended to facilitate the development and certification of safety-critical functions. The company focuses on size, weight, and power efficiency for various aircraft.
- Mar 2026Series A$8.6M
#5
Series C · Toulouse, Occitanie · founded 2017 · 33 employees$12.9Mraised▾
Operator of spacecraft providing life extension and in-orbit services. It designs, owns, and operates spacecraft to provide in-orbit services. The company's services include extending the operational life of satellites. It utilizes autonomous vision-based navigation software for its spacecraft operations.
- Nov 2025Series C$46.5M
- May 2024Series B$12.9M
#6
Series A · Illkirch Graffenstaden, Grand Est · founded 2020 · 41 employees$9Mraised▾
Provider of software platform for satellite and ground segment operations. It offers solutions for diverse space assets, including small satellites and in-orbit service vehicles. The platform provides tools for satellite operations, mission operations, and integration and testing. It supports startups, enterprises, and government entities with tailored solutions.
- Nov 2025Grant (prize money)—
- Nov 2025Series A$11.6M
- Jun 2022Seed$6.3M
#7
Series A · Toulouse, Occitanie · founded 2018 · 60 employees$7Mraised▾
Developer of small satellite solutions, from preliminary studies to operations support. They provide feasibility studies to convert needs into operational projects. With experience in space projects, their teams construct space projects. As prime contractor, they offer a global project vision. They provide solutions for commercial, scientific, and defense missions.
- Nov 2025Series A$27.8M
- Sep 2022Series A$7M
#8
Series A · Toulouse, Occitanie · founded 2020 · 31 employees$47.5Mraised▾
Developer of electric business aircraft using hydrogen propulsion systems. The company focuses on creating aircraft to reach extended nautical mile ranges. It designs prototypes and explores technological breakthroughs in aviation. The company also provides insights and key data to investors.
- Oct 2024Series A$20M
- Mar 2024Series A$24M
- 2023Series A—
- Feb 2022Seed$500K
#9
Series B · Reims, Grand Est · founded 2019 · 63 employees$55Mraised▾
Provider of dedicated launch services for small satellite deployment to orbit. The company focuses on offering frequent and affordable access to space. It designs, builds, and tests its launch vehicle for agility and reliability. The launcher is engineered to accommodate various payload sizes and orbital inclinations.
- Jul 2024Grant (prize money)—
- Jan 2024Series B$30M
- Jun 2022Series A$10.4M
#10
Seed · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2024$2.3Mraised▾
AI powered platform focused on revolutionizing incident resolution for engineering and support teams in the marine industry. It is company that focuses on developing smart ports and autonomous shipping solutions, fostering a collaborative ecosystem. Their AI powered technical assistant, ewake, helps engineering and support teams reduce incident resolution time by five times, streamlining preparation processes.
- Oct 2025Seed$2.3M
#11
Series A · Le Haillan, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2019 · 32 employees$1.2Mraised▾
Developer of hybrid rocket engine technology for scalable launch options. The company focuses on creating a cost-effective and reliable path to space. It offers multiple launch options, including dedicated, lead, and shared flights. The technology combines liquid and solid propulsion benefits, allowing thrust modulation and high performance. The patented architecture eliminates turbopumps, reducing costs and complexity. The company uses recycled materials and seeks sustainable solutions.
- Nov 2025Series A$24.3M
- May 2022Seed$1.2M
#12
Seed · Paris, Ile de France · founded 2023$3.1Mraised▾
Operator of a ground station network service for satellite communications. The company provides access to ground networks through a single application programming interface. It offers pre-integrated advanced modulations and supports testing and integration of satellite to ground. The service facilitates end-to-end data handling from satellite to cloud.
- Jun 2025Seed$17.6M
- Jun 2024Seed$3.1M
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 France
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 123 France-affiliated papers.
- Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales36
- Centre National d'Études Spatiales24
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique21
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées12
- Université Paris-Saclay12
- Rocket engine2→8
- Rocket (weapon)2→6
- Aerospace engineering1→4
- Liquid-propellant rocket3→7
- Combustion2→4
- Thrust3→4
- Aerospace engineering4
- Mechanics3
- Aeronautics3
- Propellant2
- Combustion2
Where launch vehicles is researched across France
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 France
France launch vehicles patent filing is cooling — 164 filings from 69 assignees (2016–2025), led by Snecma, Arianegroup SAS, Astrium SAS; annual filings 25→12.
- Snecma120
- Arianegroup SAS83
- Astrium SAS31
- Centre NAT ETD Spatiales17
- Airbus Safran Launchers SAS14
- AIR Liquide14
- Airbus Defence & Space SAS12
- Snekma9
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.