Paris-based Gallium Defense emerges from stealth with €7.1 million to scale affordable drone detection

Paris-based Gallium Defence, a startup specializing in affordable drone detection technology, has emerged from stealth with €7.1 million in seed funding. The investment round was led by Keen Venture Partners and 360 Capital, with contributions from Omnes Capital and Polytechnique Ventures. This announcement took place during European Defence Week 2026, which took place from November 2nd to 6th in Paris.

Alexander Ribbink, General Partner at Keen Venture Partners, stated, "Great defence starts with superior visibility. Gallium Defense has the team, the industrial partners and the cost model to make drone detection a standard layer at every critical site – the kind of European capability our fund is proud to back."

Gallium Defence was established in April 2026 by Eric Fournier, Florian Lemoine, and Robin Mandel, a trio with backgrounds in defense and industrial experience. Fournier, who spent 17 years advising defense and aerospace leaders at Boston Consulting Group, Florian Lemoine has over 15 years of experience in defense and previously served as an advisor to NATO SACT. Mandel, with 15 years of industry and consulting experience, including roles at Thales, BCG, and Safran, brings her expertise to the table.

The company claims that over 80% of critical infrastructure sites and military assets remain vulnerable to modern drone threats due to the lack of affordable, field-ready radars. Gallium Defence aims to fill this gap by creating high-performance radars that are both affordable and easy to deploy for air security and air defence.

Gallium Defence's flagship product, the GDS-10, is an X-band AESA radar equipped with a software-defined, AI-native architecture. This design allows for extensive use of commercial off-the-shelf components and embedded computing, making the technology more accessible and cost-effective. The GDS-10 is designed for dual use and is available in two versions: one targeted at critical infrastructure operators and the other for armed forces.

Capable of detecting Class 1 and FPV drones up to 10km away, the GDS-10 offers 360° azimuth coverage and 90° elevation coverage without any blind spots. It can also track multiple drones simultaneously, including those in swarms, day and night, in all weather conditions.

The GDS-10's software-defined nature enables its capabilities to evolve as new threats emerge. According to Mandel, COO and co-founder of Gallium Defence, "Our radars are designed to be manufactured and deployed by the hundreds, not one at a time."

Just four months after securing the seed funding, Gallium Defence conducted its first open-air field trials. The funding will be utilized to industrialize the production of its first products, bolster the team, train AI models, and conduct demonstrations for both civil and military operators worldwide. With the seed funding secured and field demonstrations underway, Gallium Defence positions itself as the European solution for large-scale drone detection. Plans are in place to open orders for the GDS-10 in the first quarter of 2027.