Ground A, a German defence technology startup developing software defined and laser based air defence systems, has raised €9.1 million in pre seed funding to accelerate the industrialisation of its counter drone technology and prepare its first product for market launch.
The financing round, completed in June, was led by Vsquared Ventures and included participation from Quantum Systems and venture capital investors GRIF, Robin Capital, ABACON, Leblon Capital and OVNI Capital. A group of experienced European defence and software entrepreneurs and investors has also joined the company, including Florian Seibel, Sven Kruck, J14 Capital, Andreas Nauerz, Marlon Braumann and Arx Robotics Managing Director Stefan Roebel.
A Rapidly Built Defence Platform
Ground A was founded in January 2026 with a focus on developing technology that can respond to the growing use of small and agile drones in military, security and critical infrastructure environments.
Within only a few months, the company completed the prototype phase of its first product, the GA 1000. The system is now entering testing and validation and is approaching market launch.
The company says it deliberately focused its early months on product development and technological progress before publicly announcing its operations and funding. Its objective is to build counter drone systems that can be produced quickly and in significant quantities for Germany, Europe and allied nations.
Radar, AI and Laser in One System
The GA 1000 combines radar, multiple sensors, computer vision and proprietary artificial intelligence with a high energy laser. The system is designed to automatically detect, classify and track small, agile drones.
Ground A says its AI driven tracking technology can maintain a target lock on fast and evasive FPV drones, while the high energy laser provides a precise means of neutralisation without conventional ammunition. The company positions the system as a potentially lower cost option for repeated engagements against drone threats.
Importantly, the system keeps the engagement decision with a human operator. While detection, classification and tracking are automated, the operator remains responsible for deciding whether the laser effect should be deployed.
Designed for Mobile Deployment
The GA 1000 has been designed around mobility and integration rather than as an isolated defence installation. Ground A says the complete system can fit on a Euro pallet, while its portable energy infrastructure allows operation without fixed power infrastructure.
The company also uses an open, vendor and system agnostic architecture. This means the GA 1000 can be integrated into existing air defence and command and control systems, as well as land, sea and air based platforms.
Ground A is targeting several applications, including military and defence operations, airports, power plants, ports, data centres, national borders and public events where protection from drone incursions is becoming increasingly important.
Preparing for Series Production
The new capital will support Ground A’s transition from product development to industrial production. The company is establishing modular series manufacturing in Germany, with plans to significantly expand production capacity following another financing round expected in 2027.
Ground A’s longer term ambition extends beyond the GA 1000. The company describes the product as the first element of a broader platform for counter drone and air defence systems.
Building European Defence Capacity
The funding comes as European governments and defence organisations increasingly seek technologies that can address the growing threat posed by inexpensive and rapidly deployable drones.
For Ground A, the opportunity lies not only in developing a technically capable system, but also in making it mobile, scalable and suitable for industrial production. With its first system already approaching market launch only months after the company’s founding, Ground A is positioning itself as a new European player in the rapidly expanding counter drone market.