Destinus Group BV has completed its acquisition of Daedalean AG, a Zürich-based developer of advanced AI systems for aviation, for CHF 180 million (about $225 million). Following the close, Daedalean will operate inside Destinus as a core hub for AI engineering, autonomy research, and advanced perception technologies.
The deal is designed to expand Destinus’ capabilities across both civilian and military applications of safety-critical autonomy. Daedalean’s team and technology are expected to continue supporting AI development for civil aviation, including pilot assistance, autonomy functions designed for safety-critical environments, and next-generation navigation and perception systems.
At the same time, Destinus said the integration will speed deployment of defense-focused AI applications, including navigation in GNSS-denied environments, advanced perception and seeker technologies for interceptors, cruise missiles and one-way effectors, and mission planning and autonomous decision-making for high-speed defense platforms. The company also highlighted swarming and multi-agent coordination for mass-deployed unmanned systems, as well as sensor fusion paired with onboard AI reasoning to support resilient battlefield operations.
Destinus positioned the acquisition as a step toward “sovereign” European AI capabilities across its autonomous systems portfolio, aligning with its model of vertically integrated, industrial-scale defense production while also supporting longer-term modernization efforts in civil aviation.
As part of the leadership changes tied to the transaction, Bas Gouverneur, formerly CEO of Daedalean, will become Destinus’ Chief Military Program Officer, with responsibility for military programs, advanced autonomy strategy, and integrating Daedalean’s AI stack into Destinus defense platforms. Yvonne Gross, previously Daedalean’s VP of Finance & Operations, joins Destinus as Director of Operations and Infrastructure, supporting industrial scale-up and cross-site coordination across Europe.
Destinus also appointed Brontë Hamilton as Chief Financial Officer to oversee financial strategy and capital structuring during what the company described as a rapid expansion phase.
Daedalean, founded in 2016, develops AI-based aviation systems for flight guidance, navigation, and situational awareness, with a focus on certified, safety-critical perception and autonomy technologies for both manned and unmanned aviation. Destinus describes itself as a European defense industrial company developing and manufacturing AI-enabled autonomous systems, including one-way effectors, cruise missiles, and anti-drone interceptors, supported by production and integration facilities across Europe.
KEY QUOTE:
“Finalizing this acquisition marks an important milestone for Destinus and for Europe’s ability to build sovereign, high-performance AI systems for both defense and civil aviation. Daedalean brings exceptional engineering talent and world-class expertise in safety-critical AI. Together, we will accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous systems across our interceptor, cruise missile, and UAV platforms, while continuing to advance AI technologies that enhance safety and efficiency in civil aviation. We thank the Daedalean team, investors, and shareholders for their trust, and we are grateful to Walder Wyss for their legal guidance throughout the transaction.”
Mikhail Kokorich, Founder and CEO of Destinus
