La industria de defensa española combina una tradición industrial profunda con una nueva generación de startups especializadas en espacio, ciberseguridad y deep-tech. Los Programas Especiales de Armamento (PEA) aprobados por el parlamento aportan financiación plurianual para las fragatas F-110, la evolución del Eurofighter, la participación en NGWS/FCAS y la reposición de municiones. La DGAM coordina la adquisición y el INTA actúa como brazo investigador del Ministerio de Defensa. Por ahora, DefenceJobs se centra principalmente en startups y pymes de tecnología de defensa, por lo que los grandes contratistas no aparecen en el portal: Indra (la mayor tecnológica de defensa del país, con C4I, radar y ciber), Navantia (naval), Airbus Defence and Space España, Santa Bárbara Sistemas (filial de GDELS, blindados) y Expal (ahora parte de Rheinmetall) quedan fuera del listado. El mapa muestra las empresas innovadoras que alimentan esa cadena de valor.
Empresas de defensa en España
Sectores de defensa
Todas las empresas españolas de defensa
Deep-tech company building sensors, space systems, robotics, and quantum technology for defence and aerospace applications.
Builds and operates a constellation of nanosatellites that deliver satellite IoT connectivity to remote assets in industries including energy, agriculture, logistics and defence.
Compresses large language models using tensor network methods so organisations can run advanced AI on edge devices, existing hardware and air-gapped infrastructure at a fraction of normal compute cost.
Builds an extended reality and AI command-and-control platform for defence, emergency management and critical infrastructure decision-making.
Provides safety, reliability and airworthiness engineering services for aerospace and defence programmes, and develops MBSE-based safety analysis software for complex systems.
Builds air-breathing electric propulsion systems that allow satellites to operate continuously in Very Low Earth Orbit at around 200 km altitude, using atmospheric air and solar power in place of onboard fuel.
Builds quantum random number generators and randomness processing units that give encryption systems a hardware-verified source of entropy, covering embedded chipsets through to cloud-scale computing.
Builds very high-resolution optical imagers for Earth observation satellites. The iSIM instrument has flown on ISS missions and CubeSats launched on SpaceX Falcon 9, serving defence intelligence and methane monitoring customers.
Santander-based RF specialist building solid-state power amplifiers, block upconverters, and low-noise receivers for space and defence satellite communications. Certified as a PYME Innovadora and competing with US primes in European military RF.
Madrid-based radar manufacturer spun out of the Technical University of Madrid in 2010, building 3D radars and airspace software for drone and artillery detection. Won the Spanish MoD's RAPER persistent aircraft approach radar contract.
Madrid-based defence SatCom integrator supplying X, Ka, and Ku band satellite terminals for vehicular, naval, and aeronautical military platforms. Also builds RF frequency inhibitors, tactical LTE demonstrators, and command and control systems.
Small satellite manufacturer offering end-to-end nanosatellite missions and communication subsystems. Partnered with ESA and GMV on the Celeste IOD-1 in-orbit demonstrator launched in 2026.
Vitoria-based cybersecurity company that started with robot pen-testing and now builds CAI, an agentic AI platform for offensive and defensive security operations. Selected for NATO's DIANA innovation programme.
Designs and manufactures tactical fuel-powered UAV helicopters used for maritime security, border control, and observation missions. Platforms deployed by defence customers in over 12 countries including Hungary, Greece, and Israel.
Castellón-based space propulsion startup developing green monopropellant thrusters for satellites based on hydrogen peroxide fuel. Secured €14.5M from the European Innovation Council Accelerator to scale its 5N thruster product line.
Designs, develops and manufactures advanced small unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drones) for government and industrial customers requiring intelligence and data gathering tools in challenging environments. Specialized in military drones with focus on ISR capabilities.
Vigo-based cybersecurity company building SafeDoor, a hardware device that protects computers against USB-vector attacks across software, hardware and electrical layers. Customers include Spain's Ejército de Tierra, nuclear installations and critical infrastructure operators.
Barcelona solid-state LiDAR startup building the L3CAM sensor that fuses proprietary LiDAR with RGB, thermal and polarimetric cameras for 3D perception. Selected as a Mission Sensors winner of Indra's FCAS Challenge for Spain's contribution to Europe's future air combat system.
Provides deception-powered threat intelligence solutions for active cyber defence. Creates controlled, deceptive environments that mimic organizational infrastructure to lure attackers away from real assets while gathering comprehensive threat intelligence.
Valencia-based photonics spinout of the NTC institute providing next-generation radar warning, signal intelligence, and countermeasures solutions for defence primes and government agencies. AQAP/PECAL 2110 NATO quality certified with deployed systems across three continents.
AI-powered system of hyperrealistic synthetic training environments in Extended Reality (XR) designed for training, monitoring, and evaluation of military personnel, security forces, law enforcement, and emergency services. Integrates cutting-edge technology with Unreal Engine for immersive training simulations.
Galician manufacturer of waste, water and fuel treatment systems for navy, marine and offshore. Defence accounts for 60% of sales, supplying 29 navies including the Spanish, Royal Australian, Royal and Royal Norwegian navies.
Seville-based professional UAV manufacturer building the Condor and Azor A22 RPAS for ISR missions, supplied to Spain's Military Emergency Unit, the DGAM Rapaz programme and the Kuwait National Guard.
Remote weapon stations, robotic EOD systems, and precision defence mechanisms. Major Spanish Ministry of Defence supplier.
Vigo-based computational electromagnetics spin-off from the Universities of Vigo and Extremadura developing the M3 Software suite for 3D electromagnetic design, radar analysis and antenna placement. Selected as a Mission Sensors winner of Indra's FCAS Challenge.
Develops Veronte autopilots and safety-critical avionics for UAVs, UGVs, USVs, and eVTOLs. Certified to DO-178C and DO-254 standards, products flown by defence and commercial operators across four continents.
Develops plug-and-play single-photon sources for quantum technologies market, creating electrical, vibration-resistant and alignment-free semiconductor-based quantum devices.
Precision machining and subsystem assembly firm in Sant Cugat del Vallès supplying aerospace, defence, nuclear fusion, submarine and space customers since 1951. Backed by Hyperion Fund and operates +15,000 m2 of facilities.
Madrid cybersecurity startup providing hardware-based encryption and authentication for IoT communications, giving machines unique identities. Signed an agreement with Indra to join the FCAS programme and collaborated with the Spanish Air Force on the BACSI project.
Spanish satellite network software specialist focused on interference management, signal monitoring, and electronic warfare tools for defence and commercial customers. Over 30 years building VSAT deployment and link budget solutions for governments and telcos worldwide.
Spanish marine electronics manufacturer building the M5D-Airfox solar UAV for naval surveillance, awarded a contract by the Spanish Navy's Mine Countermeasures Force. Also produces ocean monitoring and tracking buoys.
Barcelona spinout developing multi-frequency microwave radars, radiometers, and GNSS reflectometers for airborne and space platforms. Builds the RF front-end for the 3Cat-5/A satellite's FMPL-2 payload and a ground-based SAR for surveillance through dense vegetation.
Manufactures ultra-compact man-portable night vision goggles and thermal devices for land, airborne, and amphibious forces. Standard-issue supplier to the Spanish Armed Forces, with exports expanding across NATO, Asia, and LATAM.
Seville-based manufacturer of star trackers and sun sensors for satellites, with 4300+ flight units delivered since 2009 serving space and defence navigation programs.
Valencia-based UAV manufacturer spun out of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, developing VTOL platforms including the hydrogen-powered VX-110 for maritime, border, counter-narcotics and search-and-rescue missions.
Vigo-based drone operations and training company selected for NATO's DIANA 2026 cohort. Develops Suite ACRE, a dual-use emergency UTM system that lets drones and manned aircraft share the same airspace in real time.
Develops high-altitude balloon systems for near-space payload testing, stratospheric flight and balloon-assisted small satellite launch concepts.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Quiénes son los principales actores de la industria de defensa española?+
Los grandes contratistas son Indra (C4I, radar y ciberseguridad, el mayor actor tecnológico), Navantia (construcción naval militar), Airbus Defence and Space España (A400M, Eurofighter, satélites), Santa Bárbara Sistemas (filial de GDELS, carros de combate y blindados) y Expal, ahora integrada en Rheinmetall. Ninguno figura todavía en DefenceJobs porque el portal se centra en startups y pymes innovadoras, pero constituyen la espina dorsal del sector.
¿Qué sectores dominan el ecosistema español de defensa?+
El espacio es el más dinámico: Alén Space, Kreios Space, Pangea Aerospace, Fossa Systems y Arkadia Space cubren desde nanosatélites hasta propulsión. La ciberseguridad crece con Alias Robotics, authUSB y Countercraft. El radar y la fotónica tienen representación con Advanced Radar Technologies, DAS Photonics y Beamagine. El deep-tech, encabezado por Arquimea, cruza cuántica, robótica e ingeniería de precisión. Los drones y la ingeniería de seguridad completan el mapa.
¿Dónde se concentran geográficamente las empresas de defensa?+
Madrid domina, con Anzen, Arquimea, Advanced Radar Technologies, Alpha Unmanned Systems, Aicox y DEFSENSE. El País Vasco es el nudo de ciberseguridad aplicada (Alias Robotics en Vitoria, Countercraft en San Sebastián). Galicia y Vigo concentran espacio y tecnología naval con Alén Space, authUSB y Detegasa. Valencia se especializa en fotónica con DAS Photonics. Cataluña aporta sensores LiDAR y cuántica, y Santander y Castellón completan el mapa.
¿Qué está impulsando el crecimiento del sector?+
Los PEA garantizan financiación plurianual para programas de largo recorrido, el presupuesto ha alcanzado el 2% del PIB y la invasión rusa de Ucrania ha acelerado la reposición de municiones y la inversión en sistemas no tripulados. La participación española en NGWS/FCAS y en las fragatas F-110 actúa como tractor industrial para toda la cadena de proveedores.
¿Exportan las startups españolas de defensa?+
Sí, de forma creciente. Alén Space suministra nanosatélites a operadores internacionales y ha colaborado con la ESA. Pangea Aerospace desarrolla propulsión para clientes europeos y estadounidenses. Countercraft vende engaño cibernético a aliados OTAN. Arquimea opera en varios mercados con tecnología dual. La orientación exportadora es habitual porque el mercado interno, aunque creciente, no basta para amortizar la inversión en I+D de alta complejidad.
¿Qué distingue a una empresa de defensa en este portal?+
Incluimos únicamente empresas cuyo producto o servicio está diseñado para clientes militares o de defensa, no compañías genéricas de software o ciberseguridad que simplemente podrían venderles. Eso significa drones militares, comunicaciones tácticas, radar, guerra electrónica, satélites de observación, ciberseguridad aplicada a sistemas críticos, munición, blindaje o tecnología dual con clara vocación defensiva. Priorizamos startups y pymes de menos de 300 empleados.