Project Q, a Germany-based defence tech company, has raised €15M in Series A funding led by Expeditions, with participation from HENSOLDT, Project A, and Heliad. The company develops HYDRIS, an open-source Apache 2.0 integration and orchestration layer that connects sensors, unmanned systems, C2 platforms, radios, and effectors across air, land, sea, and space domains into a unified operational picture. The capital will accelerate HYDRIS development and expand European deployments.
Defence Tech Funding Surges Amid Sovereignty Push
The timing comes amid record European defence investment. Helsing raised $1.8B at an $18B valuation in July 2026, while Quantum Systems secured a $1.2B Series D the same month. Picogrid raised $45M in June 2026. Project Q's open-source approach addresses vendor lock-in concerns that traditional proprietary platforms cannot.
Fragmented Sensors Create Data Overload
European armed forces face thousands of disconnected sensors and legacy systems that cannot share data in real time. Current proprietary platforms require multi-year integration cycles and create dependency on non-European vendors subject to ITAR restrictions. The EU defence industry turnover reached €148B in 2024, up 60% since 2021, yet integration remains a bottleneck.
HYDRIS Enables Vendor-Agnostic Connectivity
HYDRIS uses gRPC/Protobuf APIs and a TypeScript plugin SDK to link any COTS or legacy asset without replacement. It supports NATO standards and MOSA compliance while remaining fully self-hostable and air-gap ready. Unlike closed US platforms, the Apache 2.0 license allows third-party customization and auditability.
As COO Bjoern Kattenstruth noted:
"We're not trying to replace existing systems — we're connecting them."
European Investors Signal Strategic Alignment
Expeditions led the round after closing a €197M defence-focused fund. HENSOLDT's direct participation as a strategic investor validates the platform's ability to complement prime contractor sensor portfolios. All capital is European, reinforcing the company's sovereignty positioning.
Europe Defence Market Expands to $194B by 2031
The Europe defence market is projected to grow from $142.42B in 2026 to $194.39B by 2031 at 6.42% CAGR. Defence tech startups raised $8.7B across Europe in 2025. Project Q competes with Helsing, Anduril, and Rebellion Defense but differentiates through open-source architecture and ITAR-free European focus.
Hiring Push Targets 75 Employees
Project Q plans to grow from approximately 40 to 75 employees, adding technical and go-to-market roles to support HYDRIS scaling and new sensor integrations.