Delian Alliance Industries, a Greek defense tech startup founded by former Apple roboticist Dimitrios Kottas, has successfully raised $14 million in a Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $22 million.

After leaving Apple's Special Projects Group in 2021, Kottas returned to Athens to establish Delian, focusing on advanced surveillance and autonomous systems to strengthen the European defense industry.

Delian is entering a competitive defense sector marked by increased military spending in Europe, where it aims to compete against established firms like BAE Systems and emerging companies like Helsing.

The startup employs Silicon Valley business strategies and vertical integration to streamline its supply chain, allowing for quicker delivery times and lower costs for its aerial and sea-based drones.

Unlike traditional European defense firms that rely on complex supply chains, Delian manufactures its hardware and develops its software and sensor systems in-house, fostering faster innovation.

The recent funding will be utilized to enhance Delian's product offerings and support further development of its technology solutions, including advanced maritime drone technology.

Delian focuses on delivering drone technology to countries lacking their own programs, capitalizing on the demand for affordable and effective defense solutions.

The Series A funding was co-led by Air Street Capital and Marathon Venture Capital, with contributions from several other investors, reflecting growing interest in defense technology startups.

Kottas believes that innovative startups like Delian can penetrate the fragmented European defense market, despite challenges posed by U.S. pressure on European countries to purchase American weapons.

Emphasizing the urgency of their mission, Kottas stated that adversaries are rapidly adopting emerging technologies, necessitating military deployments that should be measured in days rather than decades.

Kottas' background includes recognized research on GPS-denied navigation and extensive experience in autonomous systems at Apple, which informs Delian's technology development.