Autonomous defense startup Forterra has taken a major leap after raising $238 million in fresh funding. The round was led by Moore Strategic Ventures, with support from Franklin Templeton, Salesforce Ventures, and others. It also includes $50 million in debt. The new investment pushes the company’s valuation past the $1 billion mark, placing it among the growing group of defense-tech unicorns.
The funding arrives at a moment when global demand for autonomous battlefield systems is surging. Forterra now plans to double production to 1,000 vehicles next year. CEO Josh Araujo describes the platform as a kind of “Swiss army knife” for modern missions, and this capital gives the company room to scale that vision faster.
Forterra has been building autonomous military technology for over two decades. The company was founded in 2002 by Alberto Lacaze and Karl Murphy, long before defense-tech became a popular investment category. Their early focus on autonomy, modular hardware, and coordinated robotic systems has turned into a major advantage as militaries shift toward AI-driven operations.
The company designs vehicles that can move independently, operate as teams, or work in full swarm mode. These units support surveillance, sensitive transport, missile payloads, and mobile AI tasks.
Everything runs on a software and sensor stack that allows human operators to control any vehicle equipped with Forterra’s system. The flexibility of this architecture is one of the main reasons the company has formed deep partnerships with Volvo Defence, Oshkosh Defence, and Raytheon.
Forterra employs around 500 people today. Many of its vehicles are already in deployment, giving the company real-world validation at a time when defence innovation is a top priority.
The Pentagon is modernising its procurement processes, making it easier for fast-moving companies to secure contracts. This shift has also pushed venture firms like General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz to increase investment in the sector.
Defence tech used to be a niche area for venture capital. That’s no longer the case. PitchBook reports that more than $28 billion has already flowed into defence technology this year.
The rise of autonomous systems, from unmanned vehicles to AI-assisted command tools, has become central to national security planning. Forterra’s growth reflects this new reality, where autonomy, speed, and adaptable systems matter more than ever.
The latest funding gives Forterra the resources to expand its mission capabilities and strengthen its manufacturing pipeline. It also allows the company to move faster as global tensions grow and governments seek safer ways to operate in contested environments. Vehicles that can move without risking human lives are no longer optional. They are becoming essential.
Autonomous defense startup Forterra is now positioned as one of the most influential builders in this new era. With rising demand, strong partnerships, and a decade-long head start in autonomous warfare systems, the company is shaping how the next generation of battlefield technology will work.
Its rise shows how far the defence-tech category has come, and how quickly autonomous systems are becoming part of military strategy worldwide.
Another layer to Forterra’s momentum is how its technology fits modern coalition warfare. Militaries increasingly operate alongside allies using different platforms and standards. Forterra’s modular, software-driven approach makes it easier to integrate autonomous vehicles into mixed fleets without forcing armies to rebuild their entire infrastructure. That interoperability is becoming a decisive factor in procurement decisions.
There is also a strong cost argument behind the push for autonomy. Traditional military vehicles are expensive to operate, maintain, and crew. Autonomous systems can reduce personnel risk while lowering long-term operating costs, especially for logistics, reconnaissance, and perimeter defense. Forterra’s ability to retrofit autonomy onto existing vehicles makes adoption faster and more economical for defense agencies under budget pressure.
Looking ahead, analysts expect autonomy to move beyond individual vehicles toward fully networked battle systems. Swarms that share data, adapt to changing conditions, and coordinate actions in real time are no longer theoretical. Forterra’s long focus on coordinated robotics positions it well for this shift, especially as AI models become more capable at edge deployment.
With its latest funding, Forterra is no longer just proving that autonomous defense systems work. It is scaling them for real-world use at industrial levels. As defense priorities evolve toward speed, resilience, and reduced human risk, Forterra’s technology is becoming less experimental and more foundational to how modern militaries plan and operate.
