Germany and Ukraine Launch Europe’s First Joint Drone War Factory

German drone maker Quantum Systems and Ukrainian UAV manufacturer Frontline Robotics have announced the creation of a joint venture aimed at scaling up production of Ukrainian combat-proven drones for the country’s defense forces, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi on December 15.

The new company, Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), was unveiled on December 15 and will operate under the international Build with Ukraine initiative. The partnership is designed to combine Ukrainian battlefield-tested drone technologies with German expertise in industrial automation.

In comments to Militarnyi, the companies said QFI plans to manufacture more than 10,000 drones per year, making it one of the largest dedicated production efforts for Ukrainian military UAVs outside the country.

QFI will become the first German–Ukrainian joint defense enterprise focused specifically on unmanned systems. The venture plans to launch a fully automated industrial drone production line in Europe, with all completed systems delivered directly to Ukraine’s Armed Forces in quantities determined by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.

The new facility will mass-produce the Zum and Linza drones, both developed by Frontline Robotics and already used by Ukrainian forces. While manufacturing will take place in Germany, all drones produced under the program will be supplied exclusively to Ukraine.

The project is intended to create a new model of cross-border defense-industrial cooperation, merging Ukraine’s rapid wartime innovation cycle with German engineering standards and automation capabilities. Beyond production, the venture is also expected to create new employment opportunities for Ukrainians in Germany, adding a social dimension to the initiative.

Under the agreement, Quantum Systems will provide industrial infrastructure and administrative support, while Frontline Robotics will supply production licenses, oversee technology transfer, and conduct workforce training in line with NATO standards.

“Ukrainians have fundamentally changed the rules of drone warfare—now, together, we are changing the rules of defense-industrial production,” said Sven Kruck, Co-CEO of Quantum Systems. “For Quantum Systems, this is a logical step in supporting Ukraine. By combining our experience with that of Frontline Robotics, we are creating the first foreign production facility of this scale dedicated to Ukraine.”

Matthias Lener, Executive Director of Quantum Systems and head of the new joint venture, said QFI’s mission is built around three goals: scaling, expanding, and building. He emphasized that the partnership blends German engineering precision with what he described as Ukraine’s acute sense of urgency, shaped by wartime realities.

The launch of QFI builds on a strategic partnership agreement signed earlier this year and marks a significant step toward establishing a new European drone manufacturing base tailored to Ukraine’s military needs. For security reasons, the exact location of the facility has not been disclosed, Militarnyi noted.

Earlier, Denmark became the first NATO member to formally authorize Ukraine to establish defense manufacturing on its territory, a move that signals a new phase in Europe’s support for Kyiv.

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