What Project Q does

Project Q is a German defence technology company founded in 2024 that builds open-core integration infrastructure for European armed forces and security agencies. Its flagship product, Hydris, is an Apache 2.0-licensed integration platform built on a gRPC/Protobuf API with a TypeScript plugin SDK and client libraries in Python, Go, and Rust, designed to connect heterogeneous sensors, unmanned systems, effectors, and C2/BMS systems (SitaWare, ATAK, NEWS, Systematic) into a single taskable operational picture. Hydris supports 20+ connector categories across C2/BMS, EO/IR, Radar, UAS, GIS, Effectors, Weather, and Communications (including MANET IP radios and Starlink), and complies with NATO standards (CoT, SAPIENT, MAVLink) for sovereign, ITAR-free, air-gap-ready deployments on COTS hardware. The platform has been validated by the Bundeswehr and NATO, and the company is co-developing acoustic-seismic sensors with Hensoldt under partnerships signed at Eurosatory 2026.

The company complements Hydris with the UGS Mission Kit, a passive unattended ground sensor product that uses dual-domain seismic and acoustic sensing to detect RF-silent threats (vehicle, dismount, drone) with on-node edge classification, 30+ day endurance, IP67 rating, and self-meshing mesh networking, deployable by hand, UAV, or UGV. Project Q generates revenue through enterprise platform licensing, support contracts, and managed services for self-hosted or cloud deployments of Hydris and associated hardware, sold via an evaluation-first, direct enterprise sales motion targeting European defence institutions and Tier-1 defence primes. The company also pursues a partnership-led distribution model with Hensoldt and ST Engineering to extend reach into European and Asia-Pacific defence procurement channels. The company is headquartered in Munich (Project Q GmbH, HRB 293687), employs 11-50 staff, and is led by Managing Director Leonard Wessendorff alongside co-founders Christian Frank Sprengel (CSO) and Philipp Bartkowski (COO).

Name

Project Q

Legal name

Project Q GmbH

Website

https://project-q.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Project Q is a German defence technology company building the open-core Hydris integration platform plus the UGS Mission Kit to connect sensors, unmanned systems, and C2 platforms for European armed forces and security agencies. Its ITAR-free, NATO-validated platform is sold via enterprise licensing to Bundeswehr, NATO, and defence prime partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Integration Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) & Autonomous Land Platforms (IMABAIAD)

Keywords

• Defense integration software
• Open-core platform
• Unattended ground sensors
• Multi-domain sensor fusion
• Tactical edge AI

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Platform Licensing and Subscriptions: Hydris open-core platform sold to defence institutions. The company likely generates revenue through platform licensing, support contracts, and potentially managed services for self-hosted or cloud deployments. The 'Request a Demo' and evaluation-first sales motion suggests enterprise licensing agreements rather than self-serve pricing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Project Q sells the Hydris open-core defense integration platform, which rapidly integrates heterogeneous sensors, unmanned systems, C2/BMS systems, and effectors into a single taskable operational picture across air, land, sea, and space. Complementing the platform, the company sells the UGS Mission Kit, a passive unattended ground sensor product for detecting RF-silent threats via seismic and acoustic sensing with on-node edge AI classification. Both offerings are targeted at European armed forces, security agencies, and defense primes.

Product overview

Project Q offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Hydris, an open-core defense integration platform, combined with the UGS Mission Kit for unattended ground sensor capabilities and a Plugin SDK for extending integrations. Hydris serves as the foundational layer connecting any sensor, effector, C2 system, or unmanned platform across air, land, sea, and space domains into a unified operational picture. The UGS Mission Kit extends Hydris by providing passive acoustic/seismic sensors for RF-silent threat detection. The Plugin SDK allows partners to build integrations that run across all Hydris deployments. The platform is Apache 2.0 licensed, ITAR-free, and designed for sovereign European defense operations with Bundeswehr and NATO validation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hydris: Open-core defence integration platform for connecting sensors, systems, and effectors across air, land, sea, and space domains.
• UGS Mission Kit
• HYDRIS

Products and services

• Hydris Open-core defense integration platform built on Apache 2.0 with a gRPC/Protobuf API and TypeScript plugin SDK. Rapidly integrates heterogeneous sensors, unmanned systems, C2/BMS systems, and effectors into a unified taskable operational picture across air, land, sea, and space. Supports NATO standards (SAPIENT, CoT, MAVLink), exports to existing BMS/C2 systems without rip-and-replace, and is designed for sovereign, air-gap-ready, self-hosted deployment on COTS hardware. For European armed forces, security agencies, and defense primes.
• UGS Mission Kit Unattended Ground Sensor kit for detecting RF-silent threats via dual-domain seismic and acoustic sensing. Edge AI classifies targets (vehicle, dismount, drone) on-node and transmits only upon detection. Features 30+ days endurance, IP67 rating, self-meshing mesh networking, and rapid emplacement by hand, UAV, or UGV. Made in Berlin. Extensible through Hydris to third-party capabilities and C2 systems. For European armed forces, security agencies, and critical infrastructure operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sense to effect in seconds — sensor-to-shooter workflow across heterogeneous systems.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HensoldtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Hensoldt, a German sensor specialist, signed a software partnership with Project Q at the Eurosatory defence exhibition. The collaboration integrates Project Q's HYDRIS open-core orchestration solution with Hensoldt's existing sensor technology and MDOcore integration platform. The companies are also jointly developing acoustic and seismic sensors for drone and vehicle detection, covering both the defence sector and civil security applications including protection of properties and critical infrastructure. Hensoldt's record €9.8 billion order backlog signals strong market position.
• ST EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026ST Engineering signed a software partnership with Hensoldt and Project Q at Eurosatory to develop unified, AI-powered defence ecosystems. The three-way collaboration supports Hensoldt's strategic pivot toward data integration services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Anduril Industries: Anduril's Lattice OS is the closest direct competitor: an open, software-first sensor-fusion and command-and-control platform that integrates heterogeneous sensors, effectors, and autonomous systems for defence customers. Targets the same multi-domain operational-picture pain point as Hydris, but at vastly greater scale and US-led.
• Helsing: European defence AI company building AI-driven sensor fusion, situational awareness, and autonomous systems for European armed forces. Directly comparable as a sovereign, Europe-headquartered defence-software platform chasing the same Bundeswehr, NATO, and EU sovereignty spend.
• Systematic: Danish C2/BMS specialist whose SitaWare suite is already listed as a Hydris integration target. Both companies serve European armed forces with command-and-control and battle-management software, and the partnership/alliance positioning is reciprocal and customer-overlapping.
• Rebellion Defense: US defence software company building AI-enabled situational awareness and decision-support products for the DoD and allies. Overlaps with Hydris on AI-assisted data fusion, edge analytics, and multi-domain operational picture, though focused on US/ Five Eyes rather than European sovereignty.

Broad incumbents

• Palantir Technologies: Gotham and AIP provide data fusion and decision-support at scale for Western militaries and intelligence agencies. Overlaps with Hydris on multi-source data integration and tactical-edge AI, but is a much broader enterprise platform rather than a defence-specialised integration OS.
• Leidos: Large US defence integrator with deep C4ISR, sensor integration, and mission-systems work across US/UK/allied programmes. Overlaps with Hydris on the integration-of-heterogeneous-defence-systems problem, but as part of a much broader portfolio and primarily via large prime contracts.
• SAIC: US defence and civil IT integrator working on C2, ISR integration, and mission systems for military and intelligence customers. Comparable in solving multi-system integration for defence end users, though at prime-contractor scale and with US-first orientation.

Emerging players

• Calytrix Technologies: Specialist in tactical-edge C4I integration, training, and simulation for defence. Comparable in target market (military commanders needing unified multi-system views) and integration focus, though at much smaller scale and with a heavier simulation/synthetic-training tilt.
• Magos Systems: Specialist in ground-based radar and perimeter sensor detection for critical infrastructure and defence. Comparable to the UGS Mission Kit portion of Project Q's portfolio — passive/edge detection of ground and low-altitude threats feeding into a wider security picture.

Regional players

• Roke Manor Research: UK-based defence and security technology firm developing sensor systems, electronic warfare, and data-fusion products. Comparable in delivering multi-domain sensor integration and situational awareness for UK and allied defence customers, with a regional UK focus that mirrors Project Q's European sovereignty play.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-q-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Project Q