French-Ukrainian defense technology company Alta Ares today announced a €50 million funding round led by Air Street Capital, with participation from Cherry Ventures, OTB Ventures, and Harpoon Ventures.
- Founded in 2024 by Hadrien Canter, Stanislas Walch, Théo Bondarec, and Alain Henry, Alta Ares builds edge-AI systems that run directly on drones and battlefield hardware, processing live optical, infrared, and multisensor data to detect, track, and engage aerial and ground targets without cloud connectivity.
- The technology performs onboard fusion and trajectory prediction, allowing autonomous operation in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments.
- The company develops two main interceptor systems: X-Lock, a short-range platform designed for drone threats such as Shahed-136-type systems with a 15 km reach, and Black Bird, a turbojet-powered interceptor intended for high-speed targets including cruise missiles and glide bombs with a 30 km range.
- Alongside these, it provides mission software for real-time sensor fusion, targeting, and coordination across multiple assets in active operations.
- In 2025, the firm raised €1 million from Kima Ventures, Starburst Ventures, and Apeiron Venture Capital to support early development and expand its engineering and computer vision teams.
Details of the deal
- The latest funding round follows rapid commercial expansion, with the company securing multi-million-euro contracts and deployments across West Asia, Europe, and other parts of Asia, and will support scaling of production, engineering capacity, and international operations.
"We are thrilled to secure the backing of renowned European tech investors and deeply appreciate the renewed trust of our existing partners as we enter this next phase of growth. This round provides us with the resources to accelerate our industrialization, product development, and international expansion," claims Hadrien Canter, CEO and co-founder of Alta Ares.
