AI-powered drone systems take flight: Quantum Systems lands €160M to lead global aerial intelligence

AI-powered drone systems are transforming modern defence and industrial operations, and Munich-based Quantum Systems is at the forefront of this shift. Today, the company announced it has raised €160M in fresh capital to accelerate its AI-powered aerial intelligence systems development, scale its mass production capacity, and expand its global presence across Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
Quantum Systems’ autonomous drone platforms are already proving their worth in these scenarios, delivering real-time intelligence in environments where GPS signals fail and speed is critical. The new funding, led byBalderton Capital, boosts the company’s total raised to €310M and reinforces its mission to lead in dual-use aerial autonomy. They were joined by major players such as Hensoldt and Airbus Defence and Space, as well as Bullhound Capital, LP&E AG, and existing backers includingHV Capital,Project A,Peter Thiel,DTCP,Omnes Capital, Airbus Ventures, Porsche SE and Notion.
“The need for sovereign, aerial intelligence has never been more pressing,” said co-founder Seibel. “Our systems, a powerful blend of hardware and software, are built for the realities of modern defence and security challenges – they are autonomous, interoperable, and proven under harsh conditions. With support from our new and existing investors, we are ready to become the European leader in robotised and AI-powered aerial intelligence solutions, providing both public and commercial customers with the high-quality, accurate data they need for daily decision making.”
Quantum Systems was founded in 2015 by aerospace engineerFlorian Seibel, alongside co-CEOSven Kruckand a group of experts in robotics, drones, and remote imagery. Seibel’s military aviation background and the team’s deep tech expertise gave rise to a new category of modular, AI-powered unmanned aerial systems (UAS). From the start, the company focused on creating drones that are autonomous, adaptable, and built to perform under pressure in both civil and combat zones.
The founders, based in Germany, shared a common goal: to fill a growing gap in sovereign aerial intelligence. Their collaboration evolved into one of Europe’s most advanced drone startups, known for pushing the boundaries of eVTOL design, edge computing, and mission-critical AI.
Quantum Systems plans to scale its global manufacturing capabilities and increase its market share in Europe and Asia-Pacific as demand rises for AI-powered drone systems across sectors. Recent acquisitions, including AirRobot in Germany and Nordic Unmanned UK, have strengthened its defence portfolio and enabled it to become a tier-1 supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence.
“The successful completion of our C Series marks a significant milestone in our company’s history,” added co-CEO Sven Kruck. “This investment allows us to follow our vision. We will increase our global production capacity to meet the growing demand for AI-powered drone systems and expand our market presence worldwide.”
The company’s latest drone platform, Vector AI, launched earlier this year and is already used by NATO-aligned forces in Ukraine. Its ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) capabilities are designed for GPS-denied and communication-challenged environments. These systems are also deployed in Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Germany.
Investor support is also grounded in strategic alignment. “We’re thrilled to partner with Florian, Sven, and their exceptional team as they redefine the standard for aerial intelligence,” said Rana Yared, General Partner at Balderton Capital. “Quantum Systems has the technical excellence, strategic vision, and operational maturity to become a world leader in this critical category, and positively further both security and commercial objectives.”
Oliver Dörre, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at Hensoldt, said: “Our investment underscores HENSOLDT’s commitment to acting as a bridge builder, linking established defence players with agile, next-generation startups to accelerate innovation and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. The collaboration with Quantum Systems holds tremendous potential for the future of Software-Defined Defence. Together, we will shape a new era of adaptive, modular defence systems that respond faster and more intelligently to modern operational requirements.”
Michael Schöllhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, added: “As we can see from ongoing conflicts, Europe’s security will depend on connected, interoperable and multi-domain defence solutions – and the ability to adapt the warfighting capabilities with the speed of relevance. Airbus pursues its mission to shape and lead an ecosystem of defence aerospace, which provides such capabilities to our customer nations. Partnerships with nimble and competent companies like Quantum Systems are crucial to realise this joint vision, accelerating innovation in autonomous flight and crewed/uncrewed teaming.”
Beyond military applications, Quantum Systems’ AI-powered drone systems are increasingly used in commercial sectors like mining, agriculture, and infrastructure. Their platforms are helping organisations like RocketDNA and India’s Department for Science and Technology gather accurate, actionable data where traditional tools fall short.
With 550 employees spread across Germany, Australia, Ukraine, and Romania, the company’s next steps include hiring across engineering and operations, deepening R&D investment in AI and autonomy, and launching updated drone platforms to match shifting global demands.