Australian defense startup Arkeus has raised $18 million in Series A funding, or A$25 million, to expand its AI-enabled sensing and perception systems for military applications. The round was led by QIC Ventures, with participation from R+VC, Folklore Ventures, DYNE Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, Salus Ventures, and Beaten Zone.
The company develops hyperspectral sensing systems with embedded AI designed to detect, classify, and track objects in real time at the edge, without relying on cloud processing. Its flagship product, the Warden Hyperspectral Optical Radar, is positioned for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in contested environments.
Arkeus says its systems are already deployed with the U.S. Department of War and the Australian Department of Defence, and integrated with platforms from AeroVironment, Textron, Tekever, and Insitu, Boeing’s unmanned systems unit. A January 2026 contract covered accelerated delivery of Warden HSOR sensors for the Resolute Eagle drone through Resolute ISR.
The new capital will support global expansion and industrial scale-up in the United States, Australia, and Europe, including an advanced manufacturing site in Queensland. The funding reflects broader defense demand for autonomous, sensor-driven operations built around on-board AI and advanced battlefield perception.