By Atharva Singh and Prakhar Srivastava

May 7 (Reuters) - HawkEye 360 shares jumped 30% in their New York Stock Exchange debut on Thursday, securing ‌a $3.15 billion valuation and signaling strong investor demand for defense-tech offerings.

The ‌stock of the space analytics firm opened at $33.80, above the offer price of $26.

The Herndon, Virginia-based ​firm raised $416 million in its U.S. IPO on Wednesday, selling 16 million shares at the top end of its marketed range of $24 to $26 a share.

HawkEye's top-of-range pricing reflects strong market appetite for defense-related IPOs and we expect defense spending to grow ‌in the years ahead, Edward ⁠Best, partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher said.

"Some of the market's interest is fueled by the 2026 U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, ⁠authorizing over $900 billion in spending, but increased defense spending isn't limited to the U.S. This is all good news ahead of a SpaceX IPO," Best added.

The company's market debut ​arrives ​at a pivotal moment for space-technology listings, ​with a potential SpaceX public filing ‌seen as a bellwether for sector confidence in equity markets.

Following a strong April for new listings, IPO activity is set to accelerate in the coming months. HawkEye made its market debut alongside organic juice maker Suja Life, while autoimmune disease-focused biotech Odyssey Therapeutics is slated to list on Friday.

Founded in 2015, HawkEye provides ‌signals-intelligence data to defense, intelligence and national ​security agencies, using satellites to detect, locate and ​analyze radio frequency emissions worldwide.

HawkEye ​operates more than 30 satellites, with the U.S. government and ‌allied nations accounting for the bulk of ​its revenue. In ​December, the company acquired ISA, expanding its capabilities in signal processing and classified intelligence systems and strengthening ties with U.S. agencies.

Entities affiliated with Insight ​Partners will own about 15% ‌of HawkEye's outstanding shares following the offering, making the venture capital ​firm one of the company's largest shareholders.

(Reporting by Prakhar Srivastava & Atharva ​Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)