Quantum Systems raises $1.2B at $8B valuation
Unmanned drone manufacturer Quantum Systems signed a $1.2 billion Series D financing round, lifting its corporate valuation to approximately $8 billion, or seven billion euros. The Munich-based company announced the transaction today, securing one of the largest funding amounts ever recorded for a European defense startup.
US asset manager Blackstone, European growth investor Noteus, aerospace manufacturer Airbus, and private equity firm Advent co-led the multi-billion-dollar transaction. Crossover and long-term institutional backers including Bond, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Wellington Management, A.P. Moller Holding, and Elephant Lake Ventures supported the syndicate alongside existing shareholders Balderton Capital and HV Capital.
The company plans to use the capital to increase production capacity, secure its supply chain, scale delivery infrastructure across allied nations, and fund artificial intelligence software development. Executives also indicated plans to pursue corporate acquisitions with the new funds.
The funding directly supports the scaling of automated reconnaissance hardware. The design features a fixed-wing body combined with vertical-takeoff rotors, allowing long-range flight without requiring runway infrastructure on the battlefield.
Florian Seibel, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Quantum Systems, issued a statement detailing the strategic direction of the firm:
“The future is unmanned. Defence will be defined by autonomous systems that can operate together across domains in real time. With Quantum Systems, we are building a next generation neo prime that has the potential to disrupt defence as we know it today. We are profitable, deployed around the world and with the latest financing round we now have more than $1.2Bn of dry powder to execute.”
Quantum Systems manufactures unmanned aerial and land vehicles deployed by NATO military forces throughout Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The company maintains an active presence in Ukraine, where its reconnaissance fleets completed more than 19,000 battlefield intelligence missions during 2025.
Corporate revenue doubled to approximately 300 million euros last year. The business reports double-digit profitability margins, separating its financial profile from many early-stage defense hardware firms.
Jonas Jarosch, chief financial officer of Quantum Systems, commented on the financial growth of the startup:
“Quantum Systems has built a financial profile that sets a new benchmark for the defence market: triple-digit growth, double-digit profitability and disciplined execution at scale. This financing unlocks our next phase of growth as we industrialise our multi-domain platform, scale production across allied markets and continue investing in the technology infrastructure that defines our long-term competitive position.”
The $1.2 billion investment arrives amid a steep increase in global defense sector capital allocations. Data from research group Dealroom shows that defense technology startups raised $17.4 billion in the first half of 2026, exceeding the $11.2 billion raised during the whole of 2025.
A small group of defense firms commands the largest funding checks. Fellow Munich drone developer Helsing is completing a $1.2 billion funding round at an $18 billion valuation, and Stark Defence secured 500 million euros last month.
The transaction renews discussions regarding corporate consolidation within the defense sector. Seibel co-founded Stark Defence in 2024 as a standalone entity because regulatory weapons limitations on previous Quantum Systems investors barred the parent company from manufacturing strike drones.
During an interview with the Financial Times, Seibel suggested a potential combination between Quantum Systems and Stark Defence.
“I was never really happy that I was forced to build Stark outside of Quantum.”
A spokesperson for Stark Defence stated that the company currently holds no active plans to combine operations with Quantum Systems.
A merger would create a joint entity with a market valuation exceeding $10 billion.
Sven Kruck, co-chief executive officer of Quantum Systems, stated that venture capital firms are accelerating investments because of expanding defense spending budgets across Europe.
David Kaden, senior managing director at Blackstone, stated that a structural shift in the European defense market created a fresh demand for capital. The investment represents a rare foray into the defense drone sector for Blackstone, which manages over $1.3 trillion in assets.
Mike Marshall, managing director at Advent, commented on the market expansion:
“We believe Quantum Systems sits at the centre of the shift towards unmanned systems, with the product depth, customer traction and industrial ambition to scale internationally. This investment reinforces our commitment to next-generation defence technologies and we are looking forward to partnering with the team to expand production and to build for long-term growth.”
Management completed an initial public offering (IPO) readiness review for Quantum Systems. The executive team stated the firm faces no immediate pressure to execute a public stock listing.
Beyond defense applications, Seibel stated the company is exploring future expansions into robotics and humanoid technologies.
