The startup, backed by a grant from the Brave1 defense cluster, is developing high-speed jet engines for drones and missiles, capable of reaching speeds over 500 km/h.
In a significant boost for Ukraine’s burgeoning defense-tech sector, aerospace startup Scopa Industries has secured a new investment from the American-Ukrainian venture capital firm, Oppenheimer Acceleration Fund. The deal was announced by the fund’s founder, Alexander Soroka, highlighting the startup’s critical work in developing next-generation propulsion systems.
“Our Oppenheimer Acceleration Fund has made a new investment in Scopa Industries”, Soroka announced. “This is a Ukrainian aerospace startup that has launched the production of an auto-start jet engine, which enables a missile to fly a distance of up to 250 km”.
At the heart of Scopa’s innovation is a powerful yet simple jet engine designed for high-speed, tactical applications. According to the company, the engine can propel unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to speeds exceeding 500 km/h, a crucial capability for modern interceptor drones and tactical UAVs. As noted by officials, the engine is distinguished by its simplicity of design, reliability, and speed of manufacturing—making it ideal for rapid scaling.
This investment follows crucial support from Ukraine’s state-backed defense technology cluster, Brave1. A grant from the cluster enabled Scopa Industries to kickstart the production of their auto-start jet engine. The project earned praise from Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, who emphasized the engine’s unique advantages. Highlighting its market readiness, Soroka added, “The manufacturer is already supplying it to other Ukrainian missile system developers”.
Scopa Industries positions itself at the forefront of aerospace innovation, with a dedicated team of engineers, military experts, and aviation specialists. The company’s mission is to create a new generation of jet engines and unmanned solutions tailored for complex military and tactical environments.
“We work closely with defense organizations, research institutes, and industry partners to ensure our innovations translate into real-world battlefield solutions”, the company states.
While the exact size of the investment was not disclosed, Oppenheimer Acceleration Fund has a track record of supporting promising Ukrainian startups with initial checks of $25,000, followed by an additional $100,000 during its accelerator program.
With fresh capital and powerful, battle-tested technology, Scopa Industries is poised to become a critical player in shaping the future of unmanned aerial systems and high-speed tactical solutions, both in Ukraine and beyond.
Source: DEV.ua
