Destinus Acquires Daedalean, Gambit Secures $500M in AI Contracts, and Harmattan AI Raises $200M - Defense AI Brief #24
January 12, 2026 -
Defense AI Brief
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Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.
Aidoptation, a Belgian-American startup, has successfully raised €20 million to further develop AI-powered autonomous systems for both commercial and defense sectors. This funding will support their AI research initiatives and foster international collaborations. Meanwhile, Destinus Group BV has completed its acquisition of Daedalean AG for approximately USD 225 million, a strategic move to enhance AI capabilities in defense and civil aviation.
In Australia, researchers at UNSW Sydney have been awarded $3.22 million by the Australian Defence Force to create AI systems tailored for dynamic defense environments. Additionally, Magnet Defense LLC has announced its acquisition of Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and Metal Shark to integrate AI solutions into its DefendAI suite, aiming to boost maritime defense capabilities and U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.
Aidoptation, a Belgian-American startup, has successfully raised €20 million to further develop AI-powered autonomous systems for both commercial and defense sectors. This funding will support their AI research initiatives and foster international collaborations. Meanwhile, Destinus Group BV has completed its acquisition of Daedalean AG for approximately USD 225 million, a strategic move to enhance AI capabilities in defense and civil aviation.
In Australia, researchers at UNSW Sydney have been awarded $3.22 million by the Australian Defence Force to create AI systems tailored for dynamic defense environments. Additionally, Magnet Defense LLC has announced its acquisition of Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and Metal Shark to integrate AI solutions into its DefendAI suite, aiming to boost maritime defense capabilities and U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
Aidoptation Raises €20M for AI Autonomous Systems
Belgian-American startup Aidoptation has secured €20 million to advance AI-driven autonomous systems for commercial and defense applications. The funding will aid in AI research and foster international collaborations. Read more
Destinus Acquires Daedalean for $225 Million
On January 5, 2026, Destinus Group BV completed its acquisition of Daedalean AG for CHF 180 million, aiming to boost AI capabilities in defense and civil aviation. Read more
UNSW Sydney Receives $3.22 Million for AI Defence Project
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have been granted $3.22 million by the Australian Defence Force to develop AI systems for dynamic defence environments, focusing on multimodal foundation models. Read more
Magnet Defense Acquires Advanced Technology Group
On January 9, 2026, Magnet Defense LLC announced its acquisition of Advanced Technology Group (ATG) to integrate AI solutions into its DefendAI suite, enhancing maritime defense capabilities. Read more
Magnet Defense Acquires Metal Shark for AI Maritime Tech
On January 6, 2026, Magnet Defense LLC announced its acquisition of Metal Shark to enhance AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels and boost U.S. shipbuilding capacity. Read more
NextGen Defense Unveils RADIANT AI for Radiation Safety
NextGen Defense has launched RADIANT, an AI system aimed at improving nuclear radiation safety by offering real-time guidance in hazardous environments. Developed with support from Stony Brook University and Redshred, it is backed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Read more
Parry Labs and AeroVironment Enhance AI in Army's P550
Parry Labs is collaborating with AeroVironment to integrate advanced technologies into the P550 uncrewed aircraft system for the U.S. Army. This partnership focuses on enhancing the aircraft's capabilities with modular systems and AI applications. Read more
Exail Signs Contracts for DriX H-9 Sea Drone
French company Exail has secured two contracts for its DriX H-9 autonomous surface drone, enhancing its use in maritime defense and hydrographic applications. Read more
Gambit Unveils AI for Military Systems with $500M Contracts
Gambit has introduced an adaptive intelligence layer for autonomous military systems, securing over $500 million in contracts with the U.S. Department of War. The technology focuses on improving coordination and adaptation in unmanned systems. Read more
France Awards AI Framework Agreement to Mistral AI
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has granted a framework agreement to Mistral AI, enabling military and public entities to utilize its AI models and services under the supervision of the Ministry Agency for Defense Artificial Intelligence. Read more
EOS Acquires MARSS for AI Counter-Drone Tech
Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited has announced its acquisition of MARSS, a European provider of counter-drone command and control systems. This acquisition includes MARSS' AI-enabled NiDAR technology, aiming to enhance EOS' capabilities in military and civil counter-drone systems. Read more
Harmattan AI Raises $200 Million in Series B Funding
Harmattan AI has secured $200 million in a Series B funding round led by Dassault Aviation. The funding will aid in advancing AI technologies in combat aviation systems and expanding global operations. Read more
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