Alta Ares, the French startup building AI-powered air defense systems, has raised a €50m Series A led by Air Street Capital. The round includes participation from Cherry Ventures, OTB Ventures, and Harpoon Ventures. Founded in early 2024, the company develops systems to detect, identify, and intercept enemy aircraft with specialized AI software.

Unlike many competitors, Alta Ares operates in active conflict zones across Europe and the Middle East. CEO Hadrien Canter founded the company partly in response to the Ukraine war, developing both short-range drone interceptors and medium-range missile defense systems. The company already has multi-year government partnerships and counts Thales among its customers.

The European defense tech sector experiences explosive growth, with startups securing €2.1bn so far in 2026, nearly matching the €2.5bn raised in all of 2025. Air defense systems have become critical in recent conflicts, driving investor interest in cheaper alternatives to traditional solutions. Alta Ares plans to scale production to 1,000 units per month by early 2027.