Quantum Systems drones suspended by German military after cyber attack

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Quantum drones cyber suspension

Highlights

Quantum Systems was suspended from a Bundeswehr exercise after a cyber attack involving a malicious update file for its QBase control system.
Quantum Systems, valued at 7 billion euros, has military contracts in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands and is a high-profile European defence start-up hit by a rare public cyber attack.
Germany's domestic intelligence service warned in July of increased cyber threats to defence firms, especially those supporting Ukraine, amid rising sophistication of such attacks.

Cyber incident disrupts military exercise plans

As first reported by the Financial Times, the precautionary move keeps Quantum Systems from taking part in a recent Bundeswehr exercise after the company was hit by a cyber incident, according to people familiar with the matter.

A third person familiar with the matter said customers were told that a malicious update file had been distributed through the server used to send updates for Quantum's QBase ground control and mission planning system. The company said in a statement that it identified the incident at the end of October and that an immediate internal investigation found an active cyber attack by hostile actors.

Quantum said its IT and security teams contained the threat in close co-operation with the authorities. The company also said there is no risk in operating its unmanned systems for end users and operators because of the speed of the response and the characteristics of the incident, and added that the case has been reported to the relevant authorities and remains under investigation.

Quantum Systems said it would not comment on individual customers' operations and maintained that its fleet is operational. Germany's defence ministry said it does not provide information on the operation or readiness of weapon systems or military equipment for security reasons, while the armed forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pressure grows on European defence suppliers

Quantum Systems is one of Europe's most prominent defence start-ups, having reached a valuation of 7 billion euros in a funding round this year. The company has military contracts in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, and the latest incident stands out as a rare public example of a successful cyber attack affecting the defence sector.

Defence executives across Europe say cyber threats against the industry are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. Germany's domestic intelligence service warned in July that the country's defence sector, especially companies supporting Ukraine, faces an elevated risk of attacks by Russia, including cyber attacks, espionage and sabotage.

Quantum Systems has more than 200 staff in Ukraine and three joint ventures with Ukrainian companies producing small attack drones, interceptor drones and unmanned ground vehicles. It is not clear whether those Ukrainian operations are affected, but the company said it is being targeted because its work is critically relevant to customers' security and that it has mitigation plans in place to meet high data and system security standards.

As a reminder, we recently covered global cybersecurity funding trends as investor appetite stayed strong in Q3 2026.

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