Europe has a new defence-tech heavyweight. Quantum Systems, a German maker of autonomous drones, has raised $1.2bn and more than doubled its valuation to about $8bn. It is one of the largest rounds ever for a European defence startup.
The Bavarian company announced the Series D on Thursday. Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus, and Advent co-led it. Bond, Fidelity, Wellington Management, A.P. Moller Holding, and returning backers Balderton and HV Capital also joined. The raise lifts Quantum Systems to roughly €7bn, up from about €3bn late last year.
Quantum Systems builds unmanned systems for air, land, and sea. Its vertical-takeoff drones fly reconnaissance and battlefield-intelligence missions. A software layer called MOSAIC UXS ties the hardware, sensors, and counter-drone tools into one network. The company says it is profitable, with double-digit margins. Revenue doubled to about €300mn in 2025.
A war-tested record
This is not a lab experiment. Quantum’s drones flew more than 19,000 missions in Ukraine in 2025, the company said. It has built production across Germany, Ukraine, the United States, Australia, Romania, the UK, and the Baltics. Founder and co-chief executive Florian Seibel started the firm in 2015. The former Bundeswehr helicopter pilot wants it to become a “next generation neo prime.”
