Quantum Systems, a Bavaria-based maker of aerial and ground drones, announced a $1.2 billion Series D on July 2, 2026, at an $8 billion valuation, according to Tech.eu. Aviation Week, which reported that Airbus backed the round, says the valuation is twice what it was at the company's Series C. The round was co-led by Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus and Advent, with Bond, Fidelity and Elephant Lake Ventures also taking part, Tech.eu reports. The previous round, in November 2025, valued the company at over €3 billion, the same outlet says. Quantum says the money will go to international expansion, acquisitions and more manufacturing capacity.

Company statements

Co-founder and co-CEO Florian Seibel said in a statement that “the future is unmanned” and “we are profitable.” The statement gave no revenue or profit figures. He also described the company as “a next-generation neo prime that has the potential to disrupt defence as we know it today.”

Customers and contracts

Tech.eu says Quantum's technology is used by NATO forces in Europe and the US and by Australia and New Zealand, with Ukraine the most prominent deployment since the 2022 invasion. In December 2025 Quantum signed a framework with the Bundeswehr's procurement office for up to 747 Twister reconnaissance drones, with a firm order of 147 systems and options for up to 600 more, according to defence-industry.eu. Twister succeeds the Bundeswehr's ALADIN system. The article reports a minimum delivery rate of 250 systems a year without attributing it.

The Vector drone pictured here is in Romanian service. Wikipedia, citing procurement reports, lists a €18.4 million Romanian order for 22 Vector systems signed in May 2024.

Stark

Seibel co-founded Stark, the Berlin loitering-munition maker. He told the Financial Times that Quantum would consider merging with it and that there is “no roadmap” for a merger, Tech.eu relays. A Stark spokesperson said: “There are no plans to merge Stark with Quantum Systems.”

Sources and notes

Sources: Tech.eu, Aviation Week, defence-industry.eu on the Twister contract and Wikipedia: Quantum Systems. Aviation Week's article is paywalled, and Lens read only its opening. Tech.eu gives no production numbers, headcount or revenue. The valuation is the company's own announcement. Related: Stark raises €500 million and European defense startups raised $7.4 billion through Sept. 20, 2026.

Image: Romanian Quantum-Systems Vector, Eastern Phoenix 2026 exercise.jpg, courtesy of Natochannel, marked public domain on Wikimedia Commons; cropped. Photo from the April 2026 exercise.