Destinus acquires Daedalean to expand AI in flight systems
Acquisition accelerates the development of smarter AI-based flight systems for advanced autonomous operations.
Published on August 6, 2025
Image: Destinus
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Destinus Group BV announced it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Zurich-based Daedalean AG, a leader in aviation AI solutions, for CHF 180 million (approximately $225 million) in a combined cash-and-stock transaction. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of 2025, integrates state-of-the-art AI into Destinus’s core products, significantly enhancing the company’s technological strength.
Pioneering in safety-critical AI
Founded in 2016, Daedalean is a pioneer in safety-critical, certifiable AI avionics software that enables AI-assisted piloting, environmental awareness, and navigation in GNSS-denied environments. The company is headquartered in Switzerland and was founded by former Google and SpaceX engineers. It delivers systems that enable AI assistance for pilots, visual navigation, and advanced environmental insight, improving safety even in GNSS-denied environments. The transaction is pivotal for Destinus’ strategy to broaden artificial intelligence solutions for unmanned flight systems in civil and defense markets, notably strengthening its market position.
Destinus is a vertically integrated European developer of flight systems for civil and defense applications. With over 500 employees, it has become one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company maintains operations in Germany, Switzerland, France, the UK, Spain, and Ukraine.
Strong technological position
Tim Moser, Co-founder and CTO of Destinus, commented: “This acquisition strengthens our technological position by adding world-class AI expertise and deep-learning specialists. Integrating Daedalean’s innovative solutions and exceptional team will accelerate our strategy to develop, certify, and launch intelligent UAV systems for defense and civil markets.”
Bas Gouverneur, CEO of Daedalean, added: “Joining Destinus is a logical next step after our successful collaboration. Together, we’ll deliver innovative AI-driven autonomy, swarm intelligence, and sophisticated decision-making tools to market faster, making flight safer, more resilient, and operationally flexible.”
Deep expertise in AI
Daedalean’s team includes more than 150 specialists, among them 13 PhDs with deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and avionics. Integrating Daedalean’s solutions accelerates Destinus’ ability to deliver intelligent UAV systems.
The AI solutions developed by Daedalean will enhance human operators’ effectiveness and support decision-making in managing flight systems and drone swarms. These tools improve tactical insight and significantly boost mission adaptability, resilience, and operational effectiveness.
The two companies previously collaborated successfully, making the integration of artificial intelligence into Destinus products a natural next step. Combining Destinus’ aerospace engineering with Daedalean’s software and AI expertise will accelerate innovation, reduce time-to-market, and enhance global competitiveness.