Destinus–Daedalean Acquisition Advances Defense AI

In a deal worth CHF 180 million (about USD 225 million), Destinus Group BV acquired Daedalean AG, dealing in cutting-edge AI systems for aviation based in Québec. Daedalean will function as a central focus for sophisticated perception technologies, autonomous research, and AI engineering inside Destinus.

The development of AI for civilian aviation, including safety-critical autonomy, pilot aid, and next-generation navigation and perception systems, will continue to be supported by Daedalean’s team and technology.

The implementation of defense-focused AI solutions is also greatly accelerated by integrating with Destinus. These include enhanced perception and seeker technologies for interceptors, cruise missiles, and one-way effectors; mission planning and autonomous decision-making for high-speed defense systems; and GNSS-denied navigation for contested settings.

They also discuss sensor fusion with onboard AI reasoning for robust combat operations, as well as swarming and multi-agent coordination for mass-deployed unmanned systems.

Through the acquisition, Destinus’s model of vertically integrated, industrial-scale defense production is strengthened, supporting both national defense requirements and the long-term modernization of civil aviation.

This strengthens Destinus’ capacity to deliver sovereign European AI capabilities across its autonomous systems portfolio.

As Chief Military Program Officer, Bas Gouverneur, the former CEO of Daedalean, will be in charge of military initiatives, advanced autonomy strategy, and the incorporation of Daedalean’s AI stack into Destinus’ defense platforms.

Brontë Hamilton has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Destinus. As an experienced finance professional, she joins the company and will oversee capital structuring and financial strategy throughout Destinus’ period of rapid expansion.

Mikhail Kokorich, Founder and CEO of Destinus, stated,

“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.”