STARK becomes first German defence-tech company to establish a presence in Sweden. The opening represents a milestone in the company's ambitious growth journey, following rapid expansion from 120 to 400 employees over the past year.
Stockholm/Berlin, 28 January 2026:
STARK, Europe’s fastest-growing defence technology company, announced today the expansion of its operations to the Nordic region. With the opening of the Stockholm presence, STARK will establish a strong local engineering footprint and deepen industry relationships in the region.
Following Sweden and Germany’s joint declaration on a deepened strategic innovation partnership in November 2025, STARK is taking a concrete step to strengthen cooperation in areas such as technology procurement and joint projects for deterrence capability. The new Nordic presence aligns closely with the joint strategic objectives of both countries and contributes to a resilient European defence industrial base.
Advancing technology through Nordic R&D
Sweden is shaped by a long-standing heritage in radio frequency engineering, secure communications and advanced software development. Opening next month, STARK’s Stockholm team will build on this legacy to further develop its electronic warfare capabilities, enhancing the effectiveness of its systems in contested electromagnetic environments and supporting STARK’s next phase of technological development. The growing team will focus in particular on leveraging the electromagnetic spectrum to support navigation, targeting, and mission execution.
STARK is already working with and delivering to major NATO Allies. The company’s iterative innovation process, shaped through close cooperation between industry and Allied militaries, will form the basis for engagement with Nordic government partners. This approach is intended to support the development of solutions to specific operational challenges on NATO’s Northern flank.
H.E. Ludger Siemes, German ambassador to Sweden said:
“In their recently renewed Innovation Partnership, Germany and Sweden have agreed to leverage new opportunities for cooperation. Cooperation will contribute to the strengthening of the two countries' national defence and resilience, as well as Europe’s defence industry and global competitiveness. Therefore, I very much welcome that STARK establishes a presence in Sweden.”
Ralph Tischer, Managing Director of the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce said:
“We welcome STARK to Stockholm and the Nordic region. Stronger German-Swedish defence cooperation benefits both countries and supports deeper cross-border innovation. We look forward to welcoming STARK as one of our trusted partners in Sweden.”
Uwe Horstmann, CEO of STARK said:
“Deterrence in Europe is no longer just a military question, it is an industrial one. Expanding to Sweden is about working with like-minded partners in the Nordics to turn industrial cooperation into real deterrence, through shared capability, trust, and execution.”
Johannes Arlt, Managing Director Nordics at STARK said:
“Sweden combines a long defence-industrial heritage, a special responsibility for securing sovereignty in the Baltic Sea Region with a strong and vibrant start-up ecosystem. Sweden offers a depth of highly specialised talent in radio frequency engineering and electronic warfare systems, exactly the expertise needed to turn ideas into operational capability.”
