Gallium Defense Secures 7.1 Million Euros to Industrialize Low-Cost Drone Detection Radar

Gallium Defense, a Paris-based startup, has raised 7.1 million euros in seed funding to industrialize its GDS-10 radar system designed for detecting drones at critical infrastructure sites and for military forces. The company aims to significantly reduce the cost of radar deployment by utilizing commercial off-the-shelf components and embedded computing power. Following successful initial outdoor trials, the firm plans to open orders for the GDS-10 in the first quarter of 2027.

The core strategy of the company revolves around answering how to meet eighty percent of operational needs for only twenty percent of the typical price. Eric Fournier, the chief executive officer and co-founder, stated that the goal is to make radars affordable enough to be deployed in large numbers. For operators of critical infrastructure and military branches, the budget allocated per piece of equipment directly limits the extent of surveillance coverage. A less expensive radar could enable the protection of more sites or allow for a multiplication of detection points across a given area.

To achieve this cost reduction, Gallium Defense relies on an architecture that heavily incorporates components available in the commercial market, combined with embedded processing and software-driven control. The objective is to leverage parts produced in high volume while adapting their assembly and data processing specifically for detection requirements. The GDS-10 is an active electronically scanned array radar, meaning its beam orientation is performed electronically rather than mechanically. It is designed to locate objects and track their movements, while software algorithms analyze received signals to classify targets. The company intends to offer two versions of the technology, one tailored for critical infrastructure operators and another for armed forces, using a common technological base to serve multiple markets without duplicating development efforts.

The announced specifications for the GDS-10 include the ability to detect and track drones, with configurations available for both civil and military use. The targeted range is ten kilometers for class one and first-person view drones operated via immersion. The system claims a coverage of three hundred sixty degrees in azimuth and ninety degrees in elevation. It is designed to track multiple drones simultaneously, including those operating within a swarm. While the company reports that initial outdoor trials have been completed and monthly demonstrations are planned, the official communication does not provide a detailed test report outlining measurement conditions, probability of detection, or false alarm rates.

Founded in April 2026, the company brings together founders with backgrounds in defense consulting and industry. Eric Fournier previously spent seventeen years advising defense and aerospace actors at Boston Consulting Group. Florian Lemoine, the chief technical officer, has experience with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Boston Consulting Group, and the Directorate General of Armaments. Robin Mandel, the chief operating officer, contributes expertise gained at Thales, Boston Consulting Group, and Safran. The startup has also partnered with specialists in radar system design and prototyping from the French Microwave Valley since its inception.

The funding round, which closed in June, was led by Keen Venture Partners and 360 Capital, with participation from Omnes Capital and Polytechnique Ventures. The capital will be used to industrialize the first products, expand the team, train artificial intelligence models, and organize demonstrations for civil and military clients. Investors also aim to facilitate market access, with Keen Venture Partners indicating it will mobilize its network among European ministries of defense and industrial players to support the adoption of these technologies. The company enters a market that already includes several European suppliers, such as the Dutch firm Robin Radar Systems and the Danish company Weibel. FrenchWeb reported that the startup intends to manufacture and deploy its radars by the hundreds rather than as individual units.