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One of Europe’s Top Drone Startups Hit by Cyberattack, Grounding German Military Fleet
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The German military grounded drones made by defense technology company Quantum Systems after the company suffered a cyberattack, the Financial Times (FT) reported on November 13.
The Bundeswehr took the measure as a precaution after the Bavaria-based company was targeted, according to two people familiar with the matter cited by the FT. The decision prevented Quantum Systems from participating in a recent German military exercise.
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Quantum Systems told customers that a malicious update file had been distributed through the server used to send updates for its QBase ground control and mission planning system, according to the report.
The company confirmed that it identified the incident at the end of October and that an internal investigation found an “active cyber attack by hostile actors.”
Quantum Systems stated that the threat had been contained by its IT and security teams in cooperation with the authorities.
“Through the quick measures taken and the characteristics of the incident, there is no risk in operating Quantum Systems’ unmanned systems for the end users and the operators,” the company stated.
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Quantum Systems reported the incident to the relevant authorities, and an investigation is ongoing. The company did not identify who it believes is responsible for the attack.
The FT noted that Quantum Systems has military contracts in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. The company was valued at €7 billion ($7.7 billion) in a funding round this year.
Quantum Systems also has more than 200 employees in Ukraine and operates three joint ventures with Ukrainian companies. Together, they produce small attack drones, interceptor drones, and unmanned ground vehicles.
It remains unclear whether the cyberattack affected Quantum Systems’ operations in Ukraine, the FT reported.
The company stated that it had been targeted “precisely because our work is critically relevant to customers’ security,” adding that it maintains mitigation plans and security measures for its systems and data.
Recent cyberattacks have also disrupted civilian businesses across Europe. In early November, refrigeration systems at supermarkets across at least nine EU countries were targeted, with cybersecurity specialists suggesting possible links to Russian state-backed activity, although authorities had not formally identified those responsible.
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