German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems and Ukraine-based Frontline Robotics have announced a collaboration to launch a mass-production facility for small drones in Germany aimed at supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The joint venture, named Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), will produce the Zoom and Linza drone models, originally developed by Frontline Robotics.
According to a Frontline Robotics spokesperson, production is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026, with plans to scale output to 10,000 units annually over time. The Linza drone is designed for both reconnaissance and strike operations, capable of carrying payloads up to 2 kilograms over distances of 10 kilometers. It features a communications system resilient to electronic warfare. The Zoom, by contrast, is a reconnaissance drone optimized for frontline deployment.
The spokesperson noted in an email to Defense News that over 60 units in Ukraine currently rely on these drones, primarily for target identification, artillery fire adjustment, transmitting coordinates for mission planning, night operations, and resistance to electronic jamming.
Under the agreement, Quantum Systems will set up a fully automated production line in Germany, while Frontline Robotics will provide licensed manufacturing, technical support, and operator training. The initiative is also expected to create job opportunities for Ukrainians in Germany.
In a press release, the companies described this project as the first industrial-scale production of Ukrainian drones in Europe, dubbing the transnational effort as “the new German Model.” Ukrainian forces have been using Quantum Systems’ Vector drones since 2022, with hundreds delivered to date.
