Protego Ventures closes debut $125 million fund for Israeli defense tech

techcrunch.com Sep 29, 2026

Protego Ventures closes debut $125 million fund for Israeli defense tech

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 29, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Protego Ventures, a two‑year‑old Israeli venture firm focused exclusively on defense technology, has closed its debut fund with $125 million in commitments, according to an exclusive TechCrunch report. Led by veterans Lital Leshem and Lee Moser, the fund will back startups tackling Israel’s and global security challenges, allocating $5‑$50 million per company. Its first investment, drone maker XTEND, listed on the NYSE in early June and is projected to return the entire fund, prompting Protego to cap fundraising at $125 million rather than the $150 million target. Ares Management contributed $30 million as a limited partner, while other portfolio companies include situational‑awareness firm ASIO. The founders cite the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks as the catalyst for creating a dedicated defense‑tech VC, and they plan a second fund in early 2027 with additional Israeli and U.S. backing.

💡 Why It Matters

· A single successful exit could fully fund Protego’s investors, proving that focused defense‑tech capital can generate outsized returns and encouraging more private money into Israel’s security ecosystem.

Read full article on techcrunch.com

Ubiquitous drones

At the Drone Expo in New Delhi, UAS Glory Air showcased a new Russian drone model to visitors, highlighting the company’s growing presence in the global UAV market. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials in Philadelphia and New York signaled that further interest‑rate hikes may be necessary to bring inflation back to the 2 percent target, echoing a broader policy shift. In Taiwan, the Nuclear Safety Commission approved a preliminary plan to restart the Ma‑anshan Nuclear Power Plant, potentially as early as 2028, marking a reversal of the ruling party’s anti‑nuclear stance. GlobalFoundries announced plans to expand RF chip production in Singapore and Taiwan to meet AI‑driven demand, while Taiwan’s economy faces a widening K‑shaped divide between booming tech sectors and lagging traditional industries.

💡 The drone exhibit underscores Russia’s expanding influence in civilian UAV technology, a sector increasingly tied to national security. Taiwan’s nuclear restart signals a strategic pivot toward energy independence amid global supply chain pressures.

semiconductor-digest.com · Sep 29

U.S. Government Selects Navitas to Develop Next-Generation 10 kV SiC Power Semiconductors

Navitas Semiconductor has been awarded the U.S. Army’s ALATTIS program to create a domestic manufacturing process for ultra‑high‑voltage (≥10 kV) silicon‑carbide (SiC) insulated‑gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and associated PiN diodes. After a competitive review, the Army selected Navitas for its proven UHV SiC track record, defense‑grade reliability, and a resilient U.S.–based supply chain. The ALATTIS prototype project, funded by the Army Research Laboratory and supported by the Joint Experimentation and Technology Accelerator, will iterate design, fabrication, and testing to validate the novel 10 kV SiC IGBT technology. Navitas’ GeneSiC portfolio already spans 650 V to 6.5 kV devices, and the award expands its leadership from MOSFETs to next‑generation IGBTs for critical defense and infrastructure systems.

💡 Delivering a home‑grown 10 kV SiC IGBT removes a strategic technology gap, giving the U.S. military and critical grids a secure, high‑power semiconductor source.

thequantuminsider.com · Sep 28

Quantum Cyber’s Strategic Focus Includes Quantum Navigation

Quantum Cyber, a Nasdaq-listed autonomous defense firm, announced a sharpened strategy focused on GPS‑deficient warfare. The company will concentrate on three pillars: one‑way attack drones and interceptors, its licensed quantum antenna for unjammable navigation, communications, and power, and the MAHCA swarm‑control OS. Production is centered at a 50,000‑sq‑ft Bridgeport, Connecticut facility, where an 80‑unit 3D printing farm began operating on August 31, 2026, with a target annual output of 100,000 drones. The firm targets border patrol, defense UAS, law enforcement, and quantum navigation markets.

💡 By prioritizing GPS‑independent autonomy, Quantum Cyber positions itself to meet the growing demand for resilient defense systems in contested environments, potentially reshaping how militaries and security agencies deploy unmanned platforms.

kyivindependent.com · Sep 27

Ex-defense minister Fedorov announces new ‘Army of Robots’ initiative in latest move…

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the “Army of Robots” initiative on September 26, 2026, during a presentation at IT Arena in Lviv and via social media. The program aims to replace human soldiers with autonomous systems, building an ecosystem of defense‑tech companies, R&D projects, and joint military testing. Fedorov, dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, previously launched the “Army of Drones” in 2022 and has since focused on tech innovation, including a fund and a new defense‑tech firm backed by Palantir CEO Alex Karp. The initiative seeks rapid scaling of battlefield‑effective solutions.

💡 By institutionalizing autonomous warfare, Fedorov could reshape Ukraine’s combat strategy and influence global military procurement trends. The move signals a shift toward private‑sector‑driven defense innovation amid ongoing conflict.

teslarati.com · Sep 26

SpaceX completes another secret Pentagon launch, adding to suspected Starshield buildout

SpaceX lifted off a classified U.S. Space Force payload, designated USSF‑385, from Vandenberg’s SLC‑4E at 7:00 a.m. PT on Saturday. The Falcon 9 booster B1100, on its tenth flight, successfully landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship eight minutes after liftoff. The mission marks the fourth Pentagon launch from the same pad in six weeks and follows a pattern of launches suspected to carry the Starshield satellite constellation, the military variant of Starlink. The payload remains undisclosed, and SpaceX ended its livestream after the landing, as is customary for secret missions. The launch is part of a $1.6 billion contract for 18 Falcon 9 flights through 2027, bringing SpaceX’s 2026 Pentagon commitments above $8 billion and underscores the firm’s role in national security.

💡 The repeat use of a single booster for secret military payloads shows SpaceX’s growing reliability as the Pentagon’s go‑to launch provider, tightening U.S. orbital defense capabilities.

quantumcomputingreport.com · Sep 26

DRDO Signs First High-Value TDF Pact with Startup Zero mK India for…

On 25 September 2026, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed its first high‑value Technology Development Fund (TDF) contract with domestic startup Zero mK India to design and build a 20 millikelvin dilution refrigerator. The project, funded under the expanded ₹500‑crore TDF corpus, aims to secure a domestic supply chain for sub‑kelvin cryogenic hardware critical to quantum computing and defense systems. DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory will mentor and evaluate the work, aligning the effort with the National Quantum Mission to reduce reliance on foreign vendors.

💡 By producing indigenous sub‑kelvin refrigeration, India cuts import dependence on Western cryogenic equipment, directly supporting sovereign quantum‑technology development and strengthening national defense capabilities.