Africa is missing out on the $12.3bn defence-tech investment surge even as rising military budgets across the continent drive greater demand for drones, AI-powered weapons systems and advanced battlefield software reshaping modern warfare.
Global conflicts are accelerating a major shift in military technology and triggering a surge in venture capital funding for defence-tech startups, reshaping how wars are fought and who captures the economic value behind them.
According to Financial Times data, defence-tech firms have raised about $12.3 billion in venture capital in the first half of 2026 alone, already surpassing the $9.95 billion recorded in all of 2025.
The funding is flowing heavily into artificial intelligence systems, autonomous drones, robotic naval platforms and battlefield software, technologies increasingly deployed in conflicts such as Ukraine and the Middle East.
The United States dominates this investment wave, accounting for roughly $11.4 billion of total inflows, led by firms such as Anduril Industries, which recently raised $5 billion at a valuation of about $61 billion.
