UFORCE, an autonomous defence systems company, has appointed Sean Plankey as US chief executive officer to lead the company's American expansion. Plankey previously served as senior adviser to the secretary of Homeland Security and was twice nominated to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The UK-based company, which unified nine Ukrainian defence technology developers, produces the Magura unmanned surface vessel. The platform has destroyed dozens of Russian warships in the Black Sea and became the first unmanned surface vessel to down manned helicopters and fighter aircraft, supporting over 200,000 missions in Ukraine. UFORCE expects its first American-made unmanned surface vessels to launch this summer, advancing plans for US-based serial production of its autonomous systems.

European defense tech startups are intensifying commercial discussions with Middle East governments following the Iran war, with several companies reporting surging interest from Gulf states seeking drone and missile defense systems. Iran has fired over 3,000 drones and missiles at the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait since late February, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Estonia-based Frankenburg Technologies is in talks with multiple Middle Eastern governments for thousands of interceptor missiles on expedited delivery schedules. UK startup Uforce reports "skyrocketing" inbound interest and is hiring five to 10 employees in the region within weeks. The UK government convened a meeting this month connecting defense companies with ambassadors from seven Middle Eastern nations. European defense tech raised $1.8 billion in 2025, nearly triple the previous record, with $854 million already secured in 2026.

A defense-technology startup born out of Ukraine’s battlefield is emerging with a valuation topping $1 billion, as Western and Gulf militaries scramble for systems proved in combat.