Israeli Defense Startup Raises $25 Million for Tunnel Warfare Technology

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A defense technology startup co-founded by former Israeli journalist and military affairs adviser Gilad Adin has raised $25 million in seed funding to develop autonomous systems designed to detect, navigate and destroy underground tunnel networks used by groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Traysar, founded in 2025 by Adin, Yadin Soffer and Asher Katz, publicly emerged from stealth this month, unveiling what it describes as a new class of autonomous “subterra” platforms for underground military operations. The company said its technology includes a remotely operated vehicle capable of navigating, mapping and breaching tunnels, as well as a rapid-burrowing system designed to create underground access points and deliver payloads against deeply buried targets.

The funding round was led by Silent Ventures with participation from Lux Capital, Ora Global, Entrée Capital and several other investors, valuing the year-old company at more than $100 million, according to published reports. The startup said it has received encouragement from Israel’s Defense Ministry Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT) as it develops the technology for Israel and allied militaries, particularly the United States.

Traysar says its engineering team includes former employees of Anduril Industries, SpaceX and The Boring Company. The company argues that while modern militaries have invested heavily in drones, missiles and air defense, underground warfare remains an underdeveloped domain despite the growing use of tunnels and hardened underground facilities by adversaries. It cited U.S. Army estimates that more than 10,000 known military facilities worldwide are located underground.