German defence tech is on fire. Once considered too sensitive or slow-moving, defence has become one of Europe’s hottest investment areas. A few companies like Quantum Systems, STARK, Helsing and others are taking this momentum further with intense investor attention.
Now, the Munich-based drone maker Quantum Systems is all set to receive a €200 million round at a $3 billion valuation, months after achieving unicorn status. Balderton Capital, which led its €160 million round earlier this year, is once again taking the lead with the deal expected to close within weeks.
With revenue growing at more than 100% annually and another round plus a 2026 IPO on the horizon, Quantum Systems is fast becoming Europe’s defining defence-tech breakout.
A powerhouse riding Europe’s defence boom
Quantum Systems is preparing one of the continent’s biggest private raises, targeting as much as €300 million by the end of 2025 at a valuation reaching €3 billion. The company, which supplies surveillance drones to Ukraine, is benefiting from a strategic reset across Europe. Governments are committing hundreds of billions in new military spending as tensions rise along the EU’s eastern flank and as questions swirl around long-term US support for NATO.
This shift has turbocharged demand for European-built defence technology. Forecasts suggest Quantum Systems’ revenue will hit at least €300 million this year, almost triple its 2024 performance, reflecting the scale of adoption of its unmanned aerial systems across both defence and industrial applications.
A founder with military roots and big ambitions
Founded in 2015 by former German army officer Florian Seibel, Quantum Systems was built from day one around dual-use unmanned aerial vehicles capable of operating in challenging environments.
Seibel has also expanded his ambitions beyond surveillance. Last year, he launched Stark Defence, a separate company focused on attack drones, positioning the founder as one of the most influential figures shaping Europe’s next generation of air-borne defence capabilities.
What’s ahead for the drone player?
In recent times, drone companies are emerging as the clear winners. Helsing’s €12 billion valuation earlier this year set a new benchmark, signalling that Europe’s defence innovation wave is not only real but accelerating. Quantum Systems sits at the centre of this shift, proving that dual-use hardware paired with strong commercial traction is exactly what investors are seeking.
