Eclipse's $1.3B Fund, Hermeus' $350M Boost, and Pentagon's Anthropic Blacklist - Defense AI Brief #37
April 14, 2026 -
Defense AI Brief
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Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.
Eclipse, a venture capital firm, has introduced a $1.3 billion fund to support 'physical AI' startups in sectors like transportation, energy, and defense. Meanwhile, defense startup Hermeus has raised $350 million, boosting its valuation to $1 billion, to advance unmanned hypersonic aircraft development. In Ireland, Octostar, an AI software provider for national security, has secured €6.1 million in a Seed extension round to expand its operations and reduce reliance on non-European platforms.
A federal appeals court has confirmed the Pentagon's decision to blacklist Anthropic due to national security concerns, affecting the company's ability to secure contracts. LeoLabs has introduced Delta, an AI-powered system designed to enhance space domain awareness for U.S. and Allied national security missions, replacing the previous LeoGuard system. Additionally, Lockheed Martin has increased its venture capital fund to $1 billion to support advancements in AI and defense technologies, marking a significant boost from its previous $400 million fund. In leadership news, Caroline Bellamy, former Chief Data and AI Officer at the UK Ministry of Defence, joins Strider Technologies as Executive Director to bolster their AI capabilities. Lastly, Belgian spacetech company EDGX has launched its AI-powered edge computer, STERNA, on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission, enabling real-time data processing in orbit.
Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.
Eclipse, a venture capital firm, has introduced a $1.3 billion fund to support 'physical AI' startups in sectors like transportation, energy, and defense. Meanwhile, defense startup Hermeus has raised $350 million, boosting its valuation to $1 billion, to advance unmanned hypersonic aircraft development. In Ireland, Octostar, an AI software provider for national security, has secured €6.1 million in a Seed extension round to expand its operations and reduce reliance on non-European platforms.
A federal appeals court has confirmed the Pentagon's decision to blacklist Anthropic due to national security concerns, affecting the company's ability to secure contracts. LeoLabs has introduced Delta, an AI-powered system designed to enhance space domain awareness for U.S. and Allied national security missions, replacing the previous LeoGuard system. Additionally, Lockheed Martin has increased its venture capital fund to $1 billion to support advancements in AI and defense technologies, marking a significant boost from its previous $400 million fund. In leadership news, Caroline Bellamy, former Chief Data and AI Officer at the UK Ministry of Defence, joins Strider Technologies as Executive Director to bolster their AI capabilities. Lastly, Belgian spacetech company EDGX has launched its AI-powered edge computer, STERNA, on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission, enabling real-time data processing in orbit.
Eclipse Launches $1.3 Billion Fund for AI and Defense Startups
Eclipse, a venture capital firm, has introduced a $1.3 billion fund to support 'physical AI' startups in sectors like transportation, energy, and defense. Read more
Hermeus Secures $350 Million for Hypersonic Aircraft
Hermeus, an Atlanta-based defense startup, has raised $350 million, boosting its valuation to $1 billion. The funding will support the development of unmanned hypersonic aircraft. Read more
Octostar Raises €6.1 Million for AI in National Security
Octostar, an Irish AI software provider for national security, has secured €6.1 million in a Seed extension round to expand its operations and reduce reliance on non-European platforms. Read more
Court Upholds Pentagon's Blacklisting of Anthropic
A federal appeals court has confirmed the Pentagon's decision to blacklist Anthropic due to national security concerns, affecting the company's ability to secure contracts. Read more
LeoLabs Introduces Delta AI for Space Security
On April 8, 2026, LeoLabs launched Delta, an AI system designed to improve space domain awareness for U.S. and Allied national security. It replaces the previous LeoGuard system, offering enhanced threat detection and intelligence. Read more
Lockheed Martin Expands Venture Fund to $1 Billion
Lockheed Martin has increased its venture capital fund to $1 billion to support advancements in AI and defense technologies, marking a significant boost from its previous $400 million fund. Read more
EDGX Launches STERNA AI System on SpaceX Mission
Belgian spacetech company EDGX has launched its AI-powered edge computer, STERNA, on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission, enabling real-time satellite data processing. Read more
Strider Technologies Appoints New Executive Director
Caroline Bellamy, former Chief Data and AI Officer at the UK Ministry of Defence, joins Strider Technologies as Executive Director to boost AI capabilities. Read more
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