Gallium Defense raises €7.1M seed to scale drone detection radar

Paris-based Gallium Defense has emerged from stealth with a €7.1 million seed round led by Keen Venture Partners and 360 Capital, as the startup pushes a lower-cost radar aimed at detecting drones for military and critical infrastructure users. The company says the GDS-10 will enter open-air field trials now, with orders opening in Q1 2027.

Why it matters: - Drone threats are outpacing the deployment of affordable radar systems across critical infrastructure and military sites. - Gallium Defense is trying to make 3D drone detection cheaper and easier to deploy at scale. - The startup is targeting both armed forces and civilian operators, which could widen the market for drone-defense radar.

What happened: - Gallium Defense emerged from stealth on Nov. 3, 2026, during European Defence Week in Paris. - The Paris startup announced a €7.1 million seed round led by Keen Venture Partners and 360 Capital. - Omnes Capital and Polytechnique Ventures also participated in the round. - The company was founded in Paris in April 2026 by Eric Fournier, Florian Lemoine and Robin Mandel. - Gallium Defense is developing the GDS-10, a 3D drone detection radar. - Orders for the GDS-10 are set to open in Q1 2027.

The details: - The GDS-10 is an X-band AESA radar with a software-defined, AI-native architecture. - Gallium Defense plans two versions of the system: one for critical infrastructure operators and one for armed forces. - The radar is designed to detect Class 1 and FPV drones at 10 kilometers. - The system is built to track multiple targets and integrate with existing defense systems. - The GDS-10 provides 360° azimuth coverage and 90° elevation coverage. - The radar is designed to operate day and night, in all weather, and in environments affected by electronic jamming. - The company says the system is designed for mass production at a fraction of the cost of existing systems. - Proceeds from the round will be used to industrialize production, expand the team, train AI models and run demonstrations for civil and military operators worldwide. - Gallium Defense says it built the company with strategic partners, including radar system design and prototyping specialists from the French Microwave Valley. - The company says access to demonstrations is already available.

Between the lines: - The pitch is as much about economics as performance: Gallium Defense is betting that lower cost and faster deployment matter as much as detection range. - The company is moving quickly for radar hardware, with open-air field trials beginning just four months after the seed round closed. - Robin Mandel said the goal is to manufacture and deploy radars by the hundreds, not one at a time. - Eric Fournier said the company started from a blank sheet to answer a field question about meeting most of the need at a much lower price. - Keen Venture Partners General Partner Alexander Ribbink said the fund sees Gallium Defense as a European capability worth backing.

What's next: - Gallium Defense will begin open-air field trials of the GDS-10. - Outdoor demonstrations are scheduled every month. - The company plans to start taking orders in Q1 2027. - Gallium Defense will use the seed capital to industrialize production and prepare broader demonstrations for customers around the world.

The bottom line: - Gallium Defense is trying to turn drone detection into a mass-market defense product, not a bespoke military system.