UK Drone Maker UForce Valued at £4.5bn After £500m Raise

UForce, a UK drone manufacturer founded by Ukrainians, has reached a valuation of £4.5bn following a £500m fundraising round, according to The Guardian. The company's equipment has been used heavily in the war with Russia, giving it a prominent position in the rapidly expanding defence technology sector.

The raise drew backing from Britain's national wealth fund, which invested £113m in the business. The participation of the state-backed investor underscores the UK government's willingness to commit public capital directly to domestic defence manufacturers at a time when demand for unmanned systems is rising sharply.

The £4.5bn valuation places UForce among the more valuable privately held defence technology companies in the country, reflecting investor appetite for proven hardware in an active conflict environment. The company's founding by Ukrainians and the heavy use of its equipment in the war with Russia have been central to its profile and to the interest it has attracted from backers.

For investors, the round signals continued willingness to fund defence technology at scale, with sovereign-linked capital sitting alongside private money. The £113m commitment from the national wealth fund is the clearest indication yet that public investment vehicles are prepared to take direct stakes in the sector rather than relying solely on procurement spending.

The transaction also highlights how conflict-driven demand can translate into rapid valuation gains for manufacturers with demonstrated battlefield use. UForce has not disclosed further details of the round beyond the total raised and the valuation.