What Fiducial does

Fiducial, legally FDCL Defence B.V. and headquartered at Kluyverweg 1 in Delft, Netherlands, builds autonomous counter-drone and GNSS-denied navigation software for defence customers and drone manufacturers. Founded in 2023 by TU Delft alumni, the company operated in industrial maintenance and quality assurance before pivoting to defence applications in early 2025, with development of its autonomy stack beginning in June 2025. Its technology is built on classical 3D computer vision and spatial geometry, with machine learning applied selectively rather than as the foundation, and runs on constrained edge hardware.

The product portfolio is a layered ecosystem of three capabilities. Chain Home provides distributed early-warning detection using low-cost visual and thermal sensors paired with 3D computer vision, offering fully passive sensing, 3D position and direction-of-travel data, and attritable node architecture. Pathfinder delivers GNSS-independent navigation through sideways-facing visual odometry and terrain-relative positioning, designed for high-speed low-altitude flight. Intercept is onboard autonomy software that closes the detect-track-guide loop at the platform level, enabling air-to-air terminal guidance against airborne threats. Each capability is sold independently and can be layered into a connected defensive loop, with platform-agnostic integration that avoids vendor lock-in.

Fiducial monetises through non-exclusive software licences, hardware products (single-board computers, encryption modules, sensors, mission computers), and professional services including integration, consulting, training, and validation, with upgrades sold as a recurring add-on. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, led by the engineering team via a website "Request a Demo" motion targeting drone OEMs, defence ministries, and defence contractors, with End-User Declarations required under Dutch/EU export-control regimes. The company has raised approximately €2M in seed funding led by Graduate Ventures and Secfund with Rabobank debt, supported by a €72,985 EUDIS grant, a YES!Delft incubation, and a June 2026 Blue Magic Ventures event, and is targeting deployment of more than 20,000 autonomous interception drones per month with Ukrainian partners in early 2026 alongside broader European expansion.

Name

Fiducial

Legal name

FDCL Defence B.V.

Website

https://fdcl.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fiducial (FDCL Defence B.V.) builds autonomous counter-drone and GNSS-denied navigation software for defence organisations and drone manufacturers, offering distributed detection, visual navigation, and air-to-air terminal guidance capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Counter-Drone Defense Software

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Detection & Defeat Systems (IMABAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Systems & Drone Defense (IMABAIAG), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), Counter-UAS Detection Sensors & Integrated Sensor Suites (IMABAGAK), Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)

Keywords

• Counter-drone software
• Autonomous drone navigation
• GNSS-denied positioning
• Distributed airspace detection
• Air-to-air terminal guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Delft

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Software License (Autonomy Software): Non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable limited license to use the autonomy software (object code) solely for the client's internal business purposes within agreed territory and field of use. License term tied to individual product unit lifecycle or specified term in Order. Standalone software deliveries carry a separate license term.
2. Hardware Products: Physical products supplied with or without pre-installed software, including single-board computers, encryption modules, SD cards, sensors, mission computers, and other embedded systems. Title transfers to client upon receipt of full payment. Sold alongside software licensing and professional services.
3. Professional Services: Custom integration support, consulting, software porting and adaptation, technical training, testing and validation support. Performed professionally in accordance with agreed timelines. Governed by the GTC with acceptance procedures.
4. Updates and Upgrades: Updates (minor enhancements, patches, bug fixes) may be provided free of charge. Upgrades (substantial new versions) are provided for an additional fee as agreed in a separate Order.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Fiducial develops autonomous counter-drone and defence software built on classical 3D computer vision and spatial geometry. Its offering is a layered defensive ecosystem of three integrated capabilities: Chain Home (distributed early-warning detection using low-cost visual and thermal sensors), Pathfinder (GNSS-independent visual navigation using sideways-facing visual odometry), and Intercept (air-to-air terminal guidance onboard autonomy software). The software runs on constrained edge hardware and integrates across drone platforms without vendor lock-in.

Product overview

Fiducial offers a layered defensive ecosystem of three integrated autonomous capabilities: Chain Home (distributed detection using visual/thermal sensors), Pathfinder (GNSS-independent visual navigation), and Intercept (air-to-air terminal guidance). The software runs on constrained edge hardware and is platform-agnostic, designed to work independently and integrate together as a complete defensive loop from detection through navigation to response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chain Home: Distributed early-warning detection capability using low-cost visual and thermal sensors paired with 3D computer vision for persistent airspace awareness
• Pathfinder
• Intercept

Products and services

• Chain Home Distributed early-warning detection capability using low-cost visual and thermal sensors paired with 3D computer vision. Provides persistent airspace awareness with fully passive sensing (no RF emissions, immune to jamming), 3D position and direction-of-travel detection, and direct integration with interceptor platforms. Nodes run standalone or networked, scaling from single-point protection to wide-area coverage. Designed for defence organisations and drone platform builders.
• Pathfinder Visual odometry and terrain-relative positioning system providing stable navigation in GNSS-denied environments. Uses sideways-facing vision for faster matching and reliability across varying altitudes and terrain types. Platform-agnostic, compatible across aerial platform types, and reliable for high-speed low-altitude flying. Built for drone manufacturers and defence customers needing resilient navigation in contested environments.
• Intercept Air-to-air terminal guidance onboard autonomy software that gives drone platforms the capability to detect, track, and perform terminal guidance against airborne threats. Long-range camera-based detection enables early target acquisition; onboard detect-track-guide loop runs on edge hardware; operates at platform level with optional C2 cueing integration. Reduces operator training time by automating the hardest steps in the engagement loop. Built for drone manufacturers and defence organisations.
• Embedded Hardware Products Physical hardware products including single-board computers, encryption modules, SD cards, sensors, mission computers, and embedded systems supplied to clients with or without pre-installed Fiducial software. Title transfers upon receipt of full payment. Sold to drone manufacturers and defence integrators alongside software licensing and professional services.
• Integration and Professional Services Custom integration support, consulting, software porting and adaptation, technical training, and testing and validation support delivered alongside software and hardware sales. Performed professionally under agreed timelines and governed by the General Terms and Conditions with acceptance procedures. Targeted at drone manufacturers and defence customers integrating Fiducial autonomy into their platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Autonomous system reached interception points before human pilots could react in field tests.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dedrone: Counter-UAS detection software provider using sensor fusion and computer vision. Directly comparable to Fiducial's Chain Home in the distributed detection layer of the C-UAS stack.
• Blighter Surveillance Systems: UK-based radar and electronic-scan sensor company supplying C-UAS detection layers to defence customers. Adjacent technology but competing for the same sensor-budget dollars as Chain Home.
• Department 13: Counter-drone software developer offering MESMER detection-and-defeat platform. Comparable to Fiducial's Chain Home and Intercept on the software-defined C-UAS axis.
• Anduril Industries: US-based autonomous defence systems company building Lattice C-UAS software and Roadrunner interceptor. Competes head-to-head with Fiducial's Chain Home + Intercept combination for the same defence customers.
• Liteye Systems: US integrator of counter-UAS solutions combining multiple sensors and effectors. Competes in the same integrated C-UAS market and partners with multiple software stacks including those comparable to Fiducial's.
• D-Fend Solutions: Israeli counter-drone software company offering EnforceAir for drone takeover and detection. Closely comparable product architecture to Fiducial's Intercept terminal-guidance and Chain Home detection stack.
• Fortem Technologies: US counter-UAS company combining radar detection with autonomous DroneHunter interceptor. Direct competitor in the integrated detect-and-defeat value proposition Fiducial sells.
• DroneShield: Australian-listed counter-UAS company offering DroneSentry detection and DroneGun defeat solutions. Direct competitor in both detection and defeat categories, targeting similar government and critical-infrastructure buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Thales: European defence prime with broad C-UAS portfolio spanning radar, electronic warfare, and effectors. European incumbent whose procurement footprint Fiducial must sell into or around.
• Leonardo: Italian/European defence prime offering integrated C-UAS solutions including radar, EO/IR and effectors. Comparable as a Tier-1 incumbent competing for the same European defence procurement budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fiducialtech

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 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 Fiducial