STARK Defence
"Rapidly Developed. Precisely Deployed."
Berlin defence startup (2024) making Virtus VTOL loitering munitions, Vanta unmanned vessels, and Minerva C2 software for NATO allies.
STARK Defence (legal entity: SKD SE) is a European defence technology company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2024 by Florian Seibel, Uwe Horstmann, and Johannes Schaback. The company develops unmanned weapons systems across air, maritime, and software domains, supplying exclusively to NATO member states and their closest partner nations. From founding to frontline deployment, STARK achieved operational readiness in approximately 13 months, reflecting an emphasis on speed-to-field product development informed by real battlefield feedback from Ukraine.
STARK's primary product is the Virtus One-Way Effector – Vertical (OWE-V), a VTOL loitering munition approximately 2 metres in length with an X-shaped wing configuration. The Virtus is electrically powered, has a maximum take-off weight of 30 kg, carries a modular warhead payload of up to 5 kg, cruises at 120 km/h, and can reach terminal dive speeds of up to 250 km/h. It has a flight endurance of 60 minutes and an operational range of up to 100 km. The system features AI-assisted target navigation and is software-defined to receive mission updates. STARK participated in a Bundeswehr AI-enabled drone swarm exercise in May 2026, pairing the Virtus with Quantum Systems' Vector reconnaissance drone to demonstrate a recce-strike loop.
In addition to the Virtus, STARK produces the Vanta unmanned surface vessel (USV) for maritime applications, and the Minerva multi-domain command and control (C2) software platform that orchestrates air and maritime unmanned assets. In November 2025, Germany announced contracts worth up to €300 million to STARK (alongside Helsing and Rheinmetall) for the delivery of 4,000 kamikaze-type drones as part of a broader €900 million national programme for 12,000 drones total.
STARK raised a $62 million funding round in August 2025 led by Sequoia Capital, reaching a valuation of approximately $500 million, with total known funding exceeding $100 million. The company has reported plans to raise €300 million at a €2.5 billion valuation as of early 2026. STARK operates 18,500 square metres of production capacity across Germany, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Sweden, positioning it for mass production scale. The company is registered as SKD SE at the District Court of Charlottenburg, Berlin, register number HRB 260878 B.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Virtus
- Model: OWE-V (One-Way Effector – Vertical)
- Launch Year: 2025
VTOL loitering munition with AI-assisted navigation, 5 kg modular warhead, 100 km range, and 250 km/h terminal dive speed.
Vanta
Autonomous unmanned surface vessel developed for maritime defence missions within STARK's multi-domain unmanned systems portfolio.
Minerva
Multi-domain command and control software orchestrating STARK air and maritime unmanned systems in swarm and recce-strike operations.
Contact STARK Defence
WEBSITE
https://stark-defence.com/enPHONE
+49 171 278 2532HEADQUARTERS
Germany
Company Facts
Founded
2024
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Keywords
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