Drone startup Quantum Systems raises $1.2 billion amid defense boom

Autonomous protection startup Quantum Methods raised $1.2 billion in a Sequence D funding spherical, the corporate introduced on Thursday, giving it a valuation of round $8 billion on a post-money foundation.

It comes amid a flurry of exercise within the protection sector as traders race to throw money behind a brand new technology of firms creating navy expertise.

Quantum Methods, which is creating unmanned methods for land, air and sea, mentioned the funding spherical was co-led by Blackstone, Noteus, Airbus and Creation, with participation from Bond, Constancy Administration and Analysis Firm, Balderton and HV Capital.

“Protection shall be outlined by autonomous methods that may function collectively throughout domains in actual time,” Florian Seibel, co-CEO and co-founder of the German start-up, mentioned in an announcement.

“With Quantum Methods, we’re constructing a subsequent technology neo prime that has the potential to disrupt protection as we all know it right now.” The corporate is worthwhile, Seibel added.

The brand new capital shall be used to broaden manufacturing capability, strengthen provide chain resilience, scale supply throughout allied markets, and fund continued funding in software program and AI capabilities.

Protection tech firms have already raised a document $17.4 billion to this point this 12 months, in keeping with Dealroom, far exceeding the $11.2 billion the sector picked up in 2025.

The largest raises this 12 months have come from startups within the U.S. Anduril picked up $5 billion in Could, whereas Saronic Technologies and Defend AI raised $1.8 billion and $2 billion in March, respectively.

In Europe, Helsing is about to lift $1.2 billion at an $18 billion valuation, the Monetary Occasions reported in Could. Helsing has been approached for remark. Stark picked up 500 million euros ($572 million) in a funding spherical in June, led by Sequoia Capital and Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund.

“A structural shift within the European protection market has created important demand for capital to help the sector’s growth and the adoption of superior applied sciences,” mentioned David Kaden, senior managing director at Blackstone.

Deployed in Ukraine, the corporate’s methods executed over 19,000 missions within the nation in 2025, it mentioned. Quantum Methods has expanded its manufacturing footprint throughout Germany, Ukraine, the US, Australia, Romania, the UK and the Baltics.