New joint venture to produce Ukrainian drones in Germany
Ukrainian and German drone manufacturers are establishing a joint defense venture, Quantum Frontline Industries, as part of the new "Build with Ukraine" initiative, paving the way for the first industrial-scale production of Ukrainian drones in Europe.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Berlin on the sidelines of the German-Ukrainian Business Forum, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
On December 15, Quantum Systems (Germany) and Frontline Robotics (Ukraine) announced the creation of the German-Ukrainian joint venture Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), which will build Europe's first fully automated industrial drone production line for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Under the "Build with Ukraine" initiative, the new venture will mass-produce battlefield-proven multi-use drones developed by the Ukrainian company Frontline Robotics. In addition, 100% of systems produced in Germany will be delivered to the Defense Forces of Ukraine in volumes defined by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
The production line will combine Ukrainian battlefield-proven technology with German industrial automation, creating a new model of cross-border defense co-production: the German Model. It will also open employment opportunities in Germany for Ukrainians.
Quantum Systems will provide industrial infrastructure and production operations, while Frontline Robotics contributes licensed designs, training, and full lifecycle support in line with NATO standards.
"Ukrainians have revolutionized the drone war, now we will revolutionize the industrial war together. For Quantum Systems, this is the logical next step of our proven track record in support of Ukraine. Together with Frontline Robotics, we will build on our proven experience and create Europe's first foreign production capacity at this scale for Ukraine," said Sven Kruck, Co-CEO of Quantum Systems.
"We see this as an important mission – to build the first Ukrainian-German defense joint venture with our partners Quantum Systems. We are confident that our example will pave the way for future collaborations of this kind. This cooperation will supply the Defense Forces of Ukraine with thousands of drones to drive back the Russian aggressor," said Yevhen Tretiak, CEO of Frontline Robotics.
Matthias Lehna will serve as the Managing Director of Quantum Frontline Industries. The 37-year-old served as an infantry officer in the German Armed Forces before joining the Cyber Innovation Hub in Berlin and later Quantum Systems, as Director Governmental Relations and Business Development in 2023.
"QFI has three goals: Scale, Expand, and Create. Our new Joint Venture will bring together German engineering excellence with Ukrainian sense of urgency to mass produce urgently needed drones for Ukraine, expand its portfolio, and create new products to push the boundaries of what is possible," Lehna said.
"Our drones are essential and in high demand on the frontline in Ukraine, which is why we need to scale up serial production. In wartime, finding safe locations for manufacturing inside Ukraine is difficult. Partnering with Quantum Systems allows us to expand our production capacity and strengthen the Defense Forces even further. We are truly glad to have such a partner by our side," said Mykyta Rozhkov, Chief BD Officer of Frontline Robotics.
The launch of QFI builds on the two companies' strategic partnership signed earlier this year and marks a major step toward a new European drone industrial base driven by Ukrainian frontline innovation and German engineering.
Details on the location of QFI will not be publicized due to security precautions.
Quantum Systems is a European leader in the development of intelligent unmanned systems. The company supplies military, autonomous, and integrated mission solutions for military, government, and commercial customers. Quantum Systems' products combine proven hardware, artificial intelligence, and interoperable software to provide continuous and reliable aerial reconnaissance where it matters most.
Frontline Robotics is a Ukrainian defense technology company founded in August 2023 by four Ukrainians. Since 2014, the founders have been developing technological solutions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces that have proven effective in battlefield conditions. Today, the company focuses on the development of aerial and ground robotic systems for defensive and offensive operations, including the Zoom reconnaissance drone, the Linza multipurpose logistics drone, and the remotely operated combat station Buria.
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