Smack Raises $61M for Defence AI
Smack Technologies raised $61M for defence AI software, adding to the wave of venture-backed national-security technology companies.
Defence AI is becoming a more visible venture category as governments try to move faster on software and autonomy.
What happened
Smack Technologies raised a $61M Series B. The company builds AI software for defence decision-support use cases.
The round adds to a broader pattern of venture funding flowing into national-security software, autonomy and defence-adjacent AI infrastructure.
Why it matters
Defence technology has historically moved through long procurement cycles and large incumbent contractors. Startups are now trying to enter that market with faster software development, specialised AI systems and more flexible deployment models.
Smack’s funding is a market signal rather than a technical one: investors believe defence buyers are becoming more open to software-native suppliers.
The bigger picture
The defence-tech wave is widening beyond drones and hardware. Software, AI systems, data platforms and decision-support tools are becoming part of the same startup ecosystem, as governments look for faster ways to adopt new technology.