mb+Partner

What mb+Partner does

mb+Partner is a Hamburg-based aerospace engineering firm founded in 2008 as a spin-off of Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), operating as a German partnership (Partnerschaft mbB) under the legal name Ingenieure Marquardt & Binnebesel, Partnerschaft mbB, Luftfahrt-Technologie. The company specializes in developing infrastructure-independent fixed-wing drone operations through its proprietary mobile runway system, known as the Ground Carriage or GroLaS (Ground-based Landing Gear System). This system uses a rail-based ground vehicle that synchronizes with UAVs for takeoff and landing, enabling automated operations without conventional runways and deployable by 2 people in 1-2 hours. The company holds an international patent on the GroLaS technology and has obtained BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) permission for European airspace.

The product portfolio centers on the R3600 fixed-wing drone platform, available in three variants: ICE with up to 500 km range and 360 minutes flight time, Electric with 125 km range at near-silent operation, and Hydrogen H2 with 375 km range using a PEM fuel cell at up to 350 bar pressure. Supporting infrastructure includes a Drone Hangar for fully automated remote operations via 5G communication, a Bungee Launcher system for fixed-wing drone launch in the 100 kg class, and Ground Control Stations for multi-drone management. The company also offers drone retrofitting services to adapt third-party fixed-wing drones to its ground-based launch and landing system.

Revenue is generated through project-based custom consulting, hardware sales (mobile runway systems, drones, launchers, control stations), and participation in publicly funded research projects. Primary customer segments are government agencies for emergency and security operations (BOS), logistics and infrastructure operators, and aviation research institutions including Airbus, DLR, ZAL, and TUHH. Distribution occurs through direct project engagement, research consortiums funded by German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWK, BMDV, BMFTR) and IFB Hamburg via EFRE co-financing, and industry trade shows including ILA Berlin, XPONENTIAL Europe, and Interschutz. Pricing is quote-driven with no public pricing tiers disclosed.

Name

mb+Partner

Legal name

Ingenieure Marquardt & Binnebesel, Partnerschaft mbB, Luftfahrt-Technologie

Website

https://mbptech.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

mb+Partner is a Hamburg-based aerospace engineering firm that develops a patented mobile runway system (GroLaS) and a fixed-wing drone platform (R3600 in ICE, Electric, and H2 variants) for automated operations without conventional runways, serving government emergency services, logistics operators, and aviation research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aerial Systems (fixed-wing UAVs and ground-launch infrastructure)

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

UAS Launch/Recovery & Support Equipment (Catapults, Nets, Docking) (IMABAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)

Keywords

• Fixed-wing UAV systems
• Mobile runway technology
• Aircraft systems consulting
• Drone automation solutions
• BVLOS drone operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Consulting & Engineering Services: Consulting services regarding aircraft systems and automation technology, starting from 2008. mb+Partner provides conceptual design, technical system development, simulation, controller design, validation, and technology analysis in aircraft systems and control/automation engineering.
2. Mobile Runway System (Ground Carriage): Sale or licensing of the proprietary mobile runway system to customers requiring infrastructure-independent fixed-wing drone operations, including drone ports for cargo drones, disaster relief, and crisis operations.
3. R3600 Fixed-Wing Drones: Sale of proprietary fixed-wing UAV platforms (R3600 ICE, Electric, and H2 variants), along with customization and retrofit services for third-party drones to operate on the mobile runway system.
4. Research Project Funding: Participation in publicly funded research projects (BMBF, BMWK, BMDV, BMFTR, IFB Hamburg via EFRE) as a project partner, contributing to technology development while receiving co-funding.
5. Drone Accessory Systems: Sale of complementary systems including bungee launchers for fixed-wing drone launch and ground control stations for remote operation of mobile runways and multiple drones.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

mb+Partner develops and sells the patented Mobile Runway System (Ground Carriage / GroLaS) for launching fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles without conventional runways, alongside the R3600 fixed-wing drone platform available with internal combustion, electric, and hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion. The company also delivers consulting and engineering services in aircraft systems and control & automation technology, and operates a 5G-connected drone hangar for autonomous deployment.

Product overview

mb+Partner offers a unified portfolio of proprietary drone technology centered on their mobile runway (Ground Carriage) system, which enables runway-independent operation of fixed-wing UAVs. The core product line includes three variants of the R3600 drone: the ICE (internal combustion engine) version for extended range missions, the Electric version for near-silent operations, and the H2 Hydrogen version for sustainable long-range flight. Supporting infrastructure includes the Drone Hangar for automated 24/7 operations with 5G connectivity, Bungee Launcher for cost-effective launch, and Ground Control Stations for multi-drone remote piloting. The company also provides drone retrofitting services to adapt third-party fixed-wing drones to their system. Beyond hardware, mb+Partner delivers Aircraft Systems Technology and Control & Automation Technology consulting services. Key research projects include SILVA (AI-powered wildfire early detection), HYDRO-BUNNY (hydrogen refueling automation), and H2finity (hybrid-electric powertrains). The company holds an international patent on GroLaS (Ground-based Landing Gear System) technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Runway System (Ground Carriage / GroLaS) A patented mobile ground-launch and recovery system (GroLaS) that enables fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles to take off and land without paved runways, allowing UAV operations from unprepared sites. Targeted at organisations needing autonomous fixed-wing drone deployment in remote or infrastructure-limited locations.
• R3600 Fixed-Wing UAV A fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle available in three propulsion variants — internal combustion (ICE), electric, and hydrogen fuel cell (H2) — designed to operate from the Mobile Runway System. Built for long-endurance BVLOS missions in public safety, inspection, and research use cases.
• Drone Hangar with 5G A 5G-connected drone hangar infrastructure enabling autonomous deployment and operation of fixed-wing UAVs. Designed for permanent or semi-permanent autonomous UAV sites requiring network connectivity and protected storage.
• Bungee Launcher (Low-G) A Low-G bungee launcher system providing low-erosion UAV take-off capability, complementing the Mobile Runway System for fixed-wing UAV deployment.
• Ground Control Station Ground control station hardware for piloting and operating mb+Partner UAV systems during flight missions.
• Retrofitting Service A service to retrofit and upgrade existing unmanned aerial vehicles (e.g., for new payloads or operational requirements). Targeted at UAV operators needing integration or capability-extension work.
• Aircraft Systems Consulting Consulting services covering aircraft systems engineering and design, provided to industrial and aerospace clients.
• Control & Automation Technology Services Consulting and engineering services in control and automation technology, supporting UAV and broader aerospace customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• R3600 ICE achieves up to 500 km range, 360 min flight time, up to 32 kg MTOW with 5–9 kg payload
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landesforsten Niedersachsen (Landesforsten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in the SILVA project, contributing the forestry authority's perspective on wildfire risk and monitoring requirements. Provides operational context for the design of automated fixed-wing drone systems for early forest fire detection.
• Landesfeuerwehrverband Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in SILVA. The State Fire Brigade Association presents the project at public events such as 'Katastrophenschutz 4.0' in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament, representing the primary end-user perspective for wildfire detection applications.
• Landesfeuerwehrverband Mecklenburg-VorpommernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in SILVA project, providing perspective on firefighting drone applications in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• Feuerwehr Flugdienst HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in SILVA, bringing operational expertise in fire aviation services for early fire detection and emergency response.
• Kreisfeuerwehrverband SegebergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner and user representative in SILVA. Hosted the project kick-off meeting, providing important input on operational requirements from the fire brigade's perspective.
• RWTH Aachen | Institut für FlugsystemdynamikcoreTechnology or IntegrationProject partner in SILVA, contributing expertise in flight system dynamics for the development of automated fixed-wing drone operations.
• Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in SILVA and long-standing research partner across multiple projects including REALISE, ElektRail, H2finity, Airport 2030. DLR contributes expertise across flight systems, flight guidance, and airport/air transport research.
• Intelligent EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of the 1.5 kW air-cooled fuel cell system integrated into the HYDRO-BUNNY project. Their PEM fuel cell is used in the R3600 H2 hydrogen-powered drone platform. The collaboration enabled significant improvements in fuel cell integration and operation during flight.
• Institute of Aircraft Production Technology (IFPT / TUHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in HYDRO-BUNNY and co-development partner across multiple projects. TUHH (Technical University of Hamburg) is the alma mater of the founders, and the company originated as a TUHH spin-off in 2008.
• TECCON Consulting and Engineering GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing project partner in HYDRO-BUNNY, H2finity, and other initiatives. Contributed to H2finity UAV development (28 kg, 3.6m wingspan) and is a partner in the hydrogen refueling automation research. Also an exhibitor at ILA Berlin alongside mb+Partner.
• ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore research partner in HYDRO-BUNNY, H2finity, and other aviation technology projects. Co-exhibited at ILA Berlin. Contributes applied aeronautical research expertise.
• ThelsyscoreTechnology or IntegrationProject partner in H2finity and REALISE. Moderates the Development Workshop (EWS) series for the SILVA project. Contributes to hydrogen systems and automation technology development.
• Elektra Solar GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ElektRail project, contributing the electrically powered small aircraft (400 kg) used to demonstrate runway-independent operation. Co-exhibited the ElektRail system at ILA Berlin 2024.
• Nordwig Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in ElektRail, REALISE, and other projects. Contributed mechanical engineering expertise to the mobile runway system development. Co-exhibited at ILA Berlin 2024.
• Airbus (Airbus Operations, Airbus Airborne Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner across Airport 2030, REALISE, and ElektRail projects. Airbus contributes commercial aviation expertise and certification perspective to the runway-independent system development.
• TÜV RheinlandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in ElektRail project, providing certification and safety assessment expertise for the runway-independent aircraft system.
• Linköping UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish academic partner in ElektRail, enabling international exploitation of research results beyond Germany.
• MSB (Swedish Civil Protection / Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish civil protection authority partnering in ElektRail to enable international utilization of automated drone technology for emergency response.
• EurA AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in 5G-Telk-NF project, contributing consulting and engineering expertise for remote operation of the ground carriage.
• TÜV NordminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in REALISE project, providing certification and safety assessment for unmanned aircraft ground systems.
• Aircraft Design CertificationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in ElektRail, contributing aircraft certification and design expertise for the runway-independent electric aircraft system.
• GreenTEC CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 5G-Telk-NF project, contributing to the operational environment for testing remote ground carriage operations.
• Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa (AHK Eastern Africa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized the German drone industry delegation trip to Tanzania and Rwanda, of which mb+Partner was a part, along with other German drone companies (Aerodata, aeroDCS, CHARIS UAS, Dronesperhour, Germandrones, HHLA Sky, Wingcopter).
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman economic development agency that hosted/participated in the Tanzania-Rwanda trade mission, facilitating mb+Partner's international outreach.
• KfWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman development bank participating in the Tanzania-Rwanda trade mission hosting arrangements, supporting international drone technology partnerships.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman development agency involved in organizing the Tanzania-Rwanda trade mission, facilitating connections for German drone technology companies.
• ZiplineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-leading fixed-wing drone logistics company visited during the Tanzania trade mission. Zipline operates mature small fixed-wing drone deliveries for healthcare in Rwanda and other countries. The visit provided insights into scaling larger fixed-wing drone operations, though Zipline operates at a different scale and automation level.
• German Embassy Rwanda & German Embassy TanzaniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman diplomatic missions that participated in the Tanzania-Rwanda trade mission, providing government-level support for German drone industry outreach.
• Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTanzanian aviation regulatory authority engaged during the trade mission, providing insights into local drone legislation and operational requirements.
• Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRwandan aviation regulatory authority engaged during the trade mission, providing insights into local drone regulations and market opportunities.
• Niedersachsen AviationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthern German federal state aviation association that included mb+Partner in the Chalet East of the Northern German states at ILA Berlin 2024.
• bavAIRia e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBavarian aviation association that co-hosted the Northern German states chalet at ILA Berlin where mb+Partner was included.
• WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBremen economic development agency that organized the North German ILA-Evening Reception at ILA Berlin, where mb+Partner participated alongside industry experts.
• Hamburg AviationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHamburg's aviation cluster/network that brought young professionals to mb+Partner's ILA Berlin stand, facilitating connections with emerging talent in the aviation sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zipline: World-leading operator of small fixed-wing drones for healthcare and logistics delivery in Africa and the US. Directly comparable to mb+Partner's fixed-wing UAV use cases in remote logistics and healthcare; mb+Partner explicitly benchmarked against Zipline during its Tanzania visit.
• Wingcopter: German fixed-wing/tilt-rotor drone delivery company. Comparable as a fellow German drone company focused on healthcare and logistics deliveries; mb+Partner co-participated in the AHK Tanzania/Rwanda trade mission alongside Wingcopter.
• Aerodata AG: German UAV manufacturer and operator with fixed-wing platforms for surveying and security. Comparable as a German-based fixed-wing UAV peer with government and security applications; co-participated in the AHK Tanzania/Rwanda delegation.
• Elektra Solar GmbH: German manufacturer of electric small aircraft used in the ElektRail project alongside mb+Partner's ground carriage. Directly comparable as a co-developer for runway-independent electric aircraft operations.
• HHLA Sky: Hamburg-based drone/U-space operator providing industrial drone fleet management. Comparable as a fellow Hamburg-based drone company in commercial UAV operations and infrastructure; co-participated in the AHK Tanzania/Rwanda delegation.
• Germandrones GmbH: German manufacturer of long-endurance fixed-wing UAVs for defense and security missions. Comparable as a domestic peer specializing in fixed-wing unmanned aircraft for surveillance and security use cases.

Regional players

• KDS DRONETEC: German drone technology partner listed as an associated partner in mb+Partner's SILVA project. Comparable as a regional peer operating in the German UAS ecosystem with overlap on fire/emergency response use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin (Indago, Stalker): Large defense prime with multiple fixed-wing UAS programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent in defense UAV systems; relevant given mb+Partner's positioning of GroLaS as potentially applicable to larger UAS platforms.
• Airbus (Airbus Airborne Solutions / ZAL programs): Global aerospace prime participating in mb+Partner's Airport 2030, REALISE, and ElektRail projects. Comparable as a broad incumbent active in runway-independent and unmanned aviation research with overlap on the GroLaS concept.
• AeroVironment: US-listed established manufacturer of small fixed-wing UAS (e.g., Puma, Raven) for defense and commercial markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping fixed-wing UAV product portfolios and BVLOS experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mbptech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about mb+Partner