BERLIN/DÜSSELDORF — German defense technology startup Ground A has secured €9.1 million in pre-seed funding to advance its GA 1000 laser-based counter-drone system toward market launch and industrial production in Germany.
The financing round closed in June 2026 and was announced publicly in September. Ground A, founded in January 2026, has completed the prototype phase of the GA 1000 and is now conducting testing and validation. The company plans to begin modular series production in Germany in 2027, with another funding round planned to expand production capacity.
The round was led by Vsquared Ventures, with Quantum Systems participating as a corporate investor. Other investors include GRIF, Robin Capital, ABACON, Leblon Capital and OVNI Capital. Experienced investors and entrepreneurs from the European defense and software sectors also joined, including Florian Seibel and Sven Kruck of Quantum Systems, Andreas Nauerz of J14 Capital, Marlon Braumann, and Stefan Roebel, Managing Director of Arx Robotics.
Ground A is based in Düsseldorf and has a branch in Berlin. Its workforce has grown to 25 employees by September 2026.
GA 1000 Combines Radar, AI and Laser
The GA 1000 combines radar, multi-sensor fusion, computer vision, proprietary artificial intelligence and a high-energy laser effector to automatically detect, classify and track small drones. A human operator retains the decision to engage the target.
According to Ground A, the system operates in the single-digit-kilowatt laser range and is designed as a "last-mile" counter-drone system against fast-flying Group 1 to 3 drones, including explosive-laden FPVs. The company says identifying a drone, locking on and starting engagement takes about three seconds, followed by roughly one second of laser exposure per drone.
The complete system weighs less than 200 kilograms and fits within the footprint of a standard Euro pallet. It can be transported by four people. Its self-contained, swappable energy modules allow operation without fixed electrical infrastructure, while battery power supports about one hour of laser operation.
Ground A says the GA 1000 provides 360-degree detection and target acquisition at ranges of several kilometres. The company also reports an engagement cost below €0.10 per use, with energy as the primary consumable.
The system is designed to integrate with existing air-defense and command-and-control systems and can be mounted on land, sea and air platforms, including tanks and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). It is intended for military applications as well as protection of critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, airports and other sensitive sites.
Production Planned for 2027
Ground A says the GA 1000 is now approaching market launch after completing its prototype phase. CEO and co-founder Dr. Tobias Brune said the company focused on product development and results before expanding its public communication. Brune co-founded Ground A with Daniel Hariri and Roland Spiegelhalder. The company demonstrated the system in Berlin in September 2026.
The €9.1 million will support testing, market readiness, industrialisation and team expansion. Ground A has not yet commercially sold the system, and it has not disclosed specific production volumes or confirmed customer contracts.
The company plans to establish modular series production in Germany in 2027 and use its planned subsequent funding round to increase manufacturing capacity. Ground A also intends to integrate the GA 1000 with compatible systems from companies such as Quantum Systems and Arx Robotics, while targeting governments and critical-infrastructure operators.
Ground A describes the GA 1000 as the first element of a broader counter-drone and air-defense product platform.
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