Quantum Systems wins Bundeswehr contract to supply Twister drones as ALADIN successor system

The contract includes a fixed order for 147 systems with associated services, alongside options for up to 600 additional systems under a framework agreement. Quantum Systems has committed to delivering at least 250 systems per year, with the capacity to increase production if required.

ALADIN is one of the Bundeswehr’s core reconnaissance systems and is deployed across the army, navy and air force. Martin Karkour, Chief Revenue Officer of Quantum Systems, said: “The Twister combines German engineering, AI-based autonomy and battle-tested reliability from Ukraine.”

He added: “I am personally delighted that we have been awarded the contract for the successor to the ALADIN system, as we are now working together with the BAAINBw and the German Armed Forces to turn this turning point into a turning point in action.” Karkour also stated: “We at Quantum Systems are very proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Bundeswehr and to be able to equip them with a world-leading product.”

“The Bundeswehr is becoming a drone army, thereby responding to the increasing relevance of unmanned systems,” Karkour said. The Twister system is an electrically powered eVTOL small unmanned aircraft developed for tactical reconnaissance at squad and platoon level, with a maximum take-off weight of four kilograms, an endurance of 90 minutes and a range of 15 kilometres.

Equipped with sensors including an EO/IR gimbal with optional laser illuminator and acoustic sensors, Twister provides day-and-night target, effect and position reconnaissance while remaining nearly inaudible and difficult to detect. The system fits into a rucksack, can be deployed by a single person within minutes, and processes sensor data on board using integrated edge AI based on NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX.

This enables real-time scene analysis and autonomous target classification, with only relevant information transmitted to operators. Control is provided by Quantum Systems’ MOSAIC UXS mission software, which ensures interoperability between ALADIN and FALKE systems and reduces pilot training time.