Drone manufacturer Quantum Systems to invest up to 50 million euros in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is moving closer to the centre of attention for German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems: the company is massively expanding its presence there, has fully acquired Nordic Unmanned UK and turned it into the subsidiary Quantum Systems UK. Up to 50 million euros are to flow into infrastructure, partnerships and local value chains over the next five years.

The move is a direct response to the British Ministry of Defence, which is calling for more autonomy and unmanned systems under its 20-40-40 strategy. Under this doctrine, 20 per cent crewed platforms control the remaining assets: 40 per cent reusable systems such as drones and 40 per cent expendable systems, including rockets, guided missiles or one-way drones. To serve them, Quantum Systems sees itself as “ideally positioned”, according to the company – backed by an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) portfolio that forms a full-spectrum offering ranging from short-range to long-range systems.

What the drone manufacturer will spend the money on

The plans are wide-ranging. Following the successful Ukraine model, capacities for service, support, training and logistics are to be built up; on top of that come investments in maintenance and repair as well as new infrastructure for training and testing. The aim is to strengthen British sovereignty in unmanned systems – and to create new jobs in the process. A memorandum of understanding is also planned with Skyports, a company specialising in drone logistics, to be signed at DSEI 2025.

Reliant premieres at DSEI

Also at DSEI 2025, Quantum Systems is presenting Reliant, its newest ISR system for long-range missions. This means all mission profiles will be covered in future – short, medium and long range – so that defence and security customers receive end-to-end solutions from a single source. Like every system from the manufacturer, Reliant is controlled via the Mosaic UXS software platform, which was unveiled earlier this year.

A former Royal Marine at the helm

Quantum Systems UK is headed by Vito Tomasi. As a Royal Marine he served on deployments worldwide, including in Afghanistan; he then gained experience in the finance and technology sectors, first at Goldman Sachs and later in innovation investment at Speedinvest. The fact that he combines military expertise with entrepreneurial know-how is intended to give growth in the United Kingdom a boost.

Quantum Systems manager Martin Karkour emphasises: “Our mission is clear: the United Kingdom is investing in autonomy, resilience and next-generation unmanned reconnaissance. With our UK hub, the acquisition of Nordic Unmanned UK and under the leadership of Vito Tomasi, we will be the reliable partner for the British defence and security strategy.”

Tomasi himself adds: “Quantum Systems is here to stay. We are investing in British know-how, in infrastructure and partnerships – and delivering combat-proven, mission-ready reconnaissance systems that not only meet the expectations of British defence, but exceed them.”