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German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced financing for several tens of thousands of Quantum Systems interceptor drones for Ukraine as part of Germany’s military aid package for the winter of 2026/2027. 

Quantum Systems is an aerial intelligence company developing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and multi-sensor data collection technology for defence, government, and commercial customers. Its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) systems are used across defence, security, humanitarian, and geospatial operations.  The company operates across commercial and defence markets, drawing on nearly a decade of experience in drones, robotics, and imagery collection.

In March, Quantum Systems invested in Ukrainian unmanned systems manufacturer WIY Drones, which develops interceptor, reconnaissance, and strike UAVs, as well as ground control stations and related systems.  The interceptor drones were developed by the Ukrainian team at Quantum WIY Industries to protect cities, civilian facilities, and critical infrastructure from drone attacks, and integrate with Quantum Systems’ MOSAIC UXS software suite.

The joint production programme comes as Ukraine faces an evolving aerial threat, including faster, jet-powered Russian attack drones, increasing the need for interceptor systems that can be produced and deployed at scale. The systems will be manufactured in Ukraine, expanding production of interceptors already in operational use as demand for counter-drone capabilities grows.

The programme is part of Quantum Systems’ expanding German-Ukrainian production network, which includes Quantum Frontline Industries, Quantum WIY Industries and Quantum Tencore Industries. The model combines Ukrainian frontline experience with German industrial capacity to scale systems for Ukraine while building longer-term production capability for Germany and allied forces.

 Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche met Quantum Systems in Kyiv during their visit. Quantum Systems briefed the delegation on wartime manufacturing, training and operational support, as well as the continued expansion of unmanned systems production in Ukraine.    

Sven Kruck, Co-CEO of Quantum Systems, said:

“Ukraine needs interceptor drones at industrial scale. By expanding production in Ukraine, we can respond faster to the immediate threat while building an industrial capability that will also strengthen Germany and its allies.”  

The CEO of Quantum WIY Industries said:

“For QWI, this project is an opportunity to combine our engineering expertise with our partners’ industrial capabilities and scale production in Ukraine.

Our priority is to get more interceptors into the hands of Ukrainian defenders, faster. We will continue to improve our systems based on feedback from the units using them and build production capacity that can adapt quickly as threats evolve."    

At the Industry Round Table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Quantum Systems and Fire Point also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop new technologies for unmanned systems and countering advanced aerial threats.  

Quantum Systems has grown its permanent presence in Ukraine since 2022, employs several hundred people in the country and works closely with Ukrainian defence units to incorporate frontline experience directly into product development.

German defencetech ARX Robotics has agreed to an intensive collaboration with Ukrainian defencetech company Roboneers by establishing a strategic partnership for unmanned land warfare. 

Both parties signed a corresponding agreement in Kyiv over the weekend, in the presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  

The partnership calls for extensive collaboration on integrating both manufacturers' systems, including joint development efforts. 

ARX Robotics and Roboneers are already collaborating extremely successfully and supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ground drones. 

In June 2026, the companies agreed to establish a production joint venture – ARX Industries for the serial production of the Rys Pro UGV in Ukraine and Germany.  

According to Marc Wietfeld, CE of ARX Robotics, software-defined unmanned defence solutions are key for land forces on a modern battlefield where every action can be seen by the enemy. 

"Together with Roboneers, we provide the Ukrainian forces with a robust but smart UGV fleet at scale and at the same time ensure that the lessons learnt from the battlefield are incorporated into the land systems development of other Western armies.”

The Ukrainian government estimates the demand for unmanned ground systems in Ukraine at 50,000 units for 2026.

With its Gereon ground drone, ARX Robotics already operates the largest Western-built fleet in Ukraine. Recently, through its collaboration with major German industrial partners such as Deutz, ARX Robotics has demonstrated its ability to scale production and manufacture large quantities of ground drones in a very short time.  

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