Ground drones for Ukraine: Quantum Systems and Tencore to build 2,000 Termit in QTI joint venture

Industrially produced ground drones from Germany: to this end, German drone company Quantum Systems and Ukrainian UGV specialist Tencore have launched the German-Ukrainian joint venture Quantum Tencore Industries (QTI). It is to build the Termit unmanned ground vehicle. Right at the outset, an order for 2,000 systems for the Ukrainian armed forces was announced. It is the largest known procurement programme for unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) in Europe to date.

The funding for the project comes from the German Ministry of Defence. Production is to start within the next twelve months, together with an established industrial partner in Germany. This allows existing manufacturing capacity to be used while building up new industrial capabilities at the same time.

Following Quantum Frontline Industries, created under the "Build with Ukraine" initiative, QTI is already Quantum Systems' second joint company with Ukrainian partners and follows that model. The idea is to bring together combat-proven Ukrainian technologies and Europe's industrial capacity.

Upgrading ground drones via software update

At the heart of the project is the Termit UGV. The tracked, modular and software-defined ground vehicle is already in use with the Ukrainian armed forces – for logistics, casualty transport, technical support and combat tasks at the front.

Its defining feature is the software-based architecture: new capabilities can be added via software update without the need for extensive hardware changes. Integration into Quantum Systems' Mosaic UXS platform also provides additional functions and networking options.

QTI Managing Director Hendrik Kramer said:

Over the past twelve months, UGVs have fundamentally changed warfare in Ukraine – from logistics and casualty evacuation to combat operations at the front— Hendrik Kramer, Managing Director, QTI

According to him, combat-proven Ukrainian technology combined with German industrial capacity should help to build up a strategically important capability for the armed forces more quickly.