Quantum Systems, a German AI-powered unmanned systems company, has announced the purchase of FERNRIDE, a Munich-based specialist in autonomous ground mobility. With this acquisition, Quantum Systems significantly extends its reach from solely aerial intelligence to include land-based autonomy. The amount of the deal has not been made public.
Building a Cross-Domain Unmanned Ecosystem
This purchase is a strategic move to realise the vision of a fully connected cross-domain ecosystem of unmanned systems, where intelligence from aerial, ground, and software sources is combined into one operational framework. The company said that by integrating FERNRIDE’s technology, it would be able to enhance its MOSAIC UXS mission software to enable multi-domain operations in which unmanned systems co-ordinate, “think, move and act as a single entity” not only within one environment but also across air and ground environments.
From Reconnaissance Drones to Multi-Domain Operations
Initially, Quantum Systems was concentrated on producing AI-enabled reconnaissance drones and related intelligence software. Nowadays, it has become a notable player in the defence and security market, especially as a result of its implementation in Ukraine. The company states that this experience has shown the need for the silos of aerial and ground robotics to be broken up and to interact closely for enhanced situational awareness, logistics and decision-making in contested environments.
FERNRIDE’s Proven Ground Autonomy Platform
Quantum Systems has acquired the leading-edge technology of FERNRIDE, which provides software as a platform for autonomous ground vehicles applicable to container terminals, yard operations, autonomous driving and defence logistics. Its technology is already deployed with established commercial customers, meaning the combined entity gains immediate operational scale beyond research and pilot projects.
Regulatory Milestones and Military Testing
In 2025, FERNRIDE became the first company to receive TÜV certification for autonomous trucks in Europe, a milestone widely regarded as a breakthrough for the commercialisation of driverless heavy vehicles under European regulatory frameworks. The company has conducted initial tests of its autonomous trucks with the German Armed Forces and recently expanded its portfolio to address defence logistics more directly.
Executive Perspectives on Strategic Alignment
Florian Seibel, co-CEO and co-founder of Quantum Systems, described FERNRIDE as one of the most advanced players in autonomous ground mobility. “FERNRIDE has created a ground platform for autonomy that is not only one of the most advanced in the world but also highly scalable,” Seibel said. “Integrating their technology into MOSAIC UXS is a step forward in the realisation of our concept of a connected ecosystem in which unmanned systems are able to think, move and act as a single entity in different dimensions.”
Accelerating Defence and Civilian Applications
For FERNRIDE, the acquisition represents a path to faster scaling, particularly in the defence sector. Hendrik Kramer, CEO and co-founder of FERNRIDE, said Europe’s current security situation highlights the need for domestically developed autonomous solutions. He added that the partnership would accelerate deployment within European defence logistics—described as “the most urgent environment globally for scaling autonomous ground systems”—with experience later transferred to civilian logistics to improve supply chain resilience and safety.
Broader Defence Industry Expansion
The acquisition follows another major announcement earlier this week, when Quantum Systems and Frontline Robotics unveiled Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), a German-Ukrainian joint venture. QFI aims to establish Europe’s first fully automated, industrial-scale foreign production line for drones supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, underlining Quantum Systems’ expanding role in defence manufacturing and operational support.
Positioning for Europe’s Sovereign Autonomy Push
Together, the FERNRIDE acquisition and the launch of QFI highlight Quantum Systems’ ambition to emerge as a leading European provider of AI-driven unmanned systems operating seamlessly across air and ground domains, delivering sovereign technology solutions as demand for autonomous defence and logistics capabilities continues to grow rapidly.
