The German startup Ground A has secured €9.1 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its GA 1000 counter-drone system. The round was led by Vsquared Ventures, with participation from corporate investor Quantum Systems and other backers including GRIF, Robin Capital, ABACON, Leblon Capital, and OVNI Capital. Individual investors included Florian Seibel, Sven Kruck, Andreas Nauerz, Marlon Braumann, and Stefan Roebel.
The GA 1000 system consists of three primary components: a detection module for small, fast-moving drones, an autonomous targeting 'brain', and a high-energy laser for threat destruction. The unit is designed to fit on a standard Euro pallet, can be transported by four people, and integrates with NATO command-and-control systems, tanks, and unmanned ground vehicles.
CEO Tobias Brune, who holds a PhD in engineering from RWTH Aachen, founded the company in January. The GA 1000 moved from prototype to testing and validation within seven months. The company's workforce grew from three members to five by March and reached 25 employees by September.
The company positions itself against heavy laser systems from Rheinmetall and MBDA, which produce 50 to over 100 kilowatts of power and are not expected to be fully operational until 2029. Ground A offers a lighter, software-integrated alternative. In contrast, DroneShield, valued at approximately $1.1 billion by September 2026, uses radio frequency jamming rather than lasers.
Ground A has not yet sold any systems. The funds will be used for prototype development, market entry, and team expansion. A subsequent funding round is planned for 2027 to scale manufacturing. The European counter-drone market was valued at $9.17 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $29.70 billion by 2031.
