avilus

What avilus does

Avilus GmbH is a German manufacturer and certified operator of dual-use unmanned aircraft, with more than 150 employees across its Ismaning and Bredstedt sites. It serves defense forces, civil-protection agencies, humanitarian organizations, and critical-infrastructure operators through the Grille evacuation and resupply platform, Wespe cargo and multi-role platform, and Bussard intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. (Primary source:.)

The aircraft share RasCore, Avilus's modular avionics architecture integrating flight control, monitoring, navigation, communications, and transponders. RasCore Ground and RasCore Air use redundant control stations, dissimilar flight-control lanes, plug-in interfaces, and GNSS-independent inertial navigation designed to maintain operation in jammed, spoofed, or communications-degraded environments. Avilus also integrates its systems with battle-management systems and protected command vehicles. (Primary source:.)

Its stated revenue model combines direct aircraft and ground-control sales, multi-year Aircraft as a Service contracts, and training, maintenance, upgrades, and operational support. Distribution is primarily direct to government procurement agencies, military organizations, and civil-protection customers, supplemented by defense exhibitions, live demonstrations, and European defense research consortia; public pricing and contract values are not disclosed. (Primary source:.)

Name

avilus

Legal name

AVILUS GmbH

Website

https://avilus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Avilus GmbH manufactures and operates modular unmanned aircraft for defense, civil-protection, humanitarian, logistics, and critical-infrastructure customers, delivering Grille, Wespe, and Bussard systems through sales, Aircraft as a Service, training, and support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Defense & Dual-Use UAVs)

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

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH), Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK), Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE)

Keywords

• Dual-use unmanned aircraft
• Medical evacuation drones
• Autonomous ISR platforms
• Defense UAV manufacturer
• Avionics and flight control

Headquarters

HQ city

Ismaning

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aircraft as a Service (Drone as a Service): Avilus provides critical air support as an operational service tailored to mission profiles such as logistics, surveillance, or medical support. Instead of investing upfront in aircraft, customers gain immediate access to operational capability. This approach enables organizations to validate concepts, establish operational procedures, and build confidence under real-world conditions before deciding to procure their own systems.
2. Aircraft Sales: Direct sale of unmanned aircraft systems (Grille, Wespe, Bussard) and associated ground control segments to government and defense customers.
3. Training and Support Services: Operator training, maintenance, upgrades, and long-term operational support packages bundled with aircraft sales or service contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Avilus designs, manufactures and operates a family of dual-use unmanned aircraft systems (Grille for medical evacuation, Wespe for multi-role logistics, and Bussard for long-endurance ISR) unified by a proprietary RasCore avionics platform. The company also offers these capabilities as Aircraft as a Service, providing operational mission support without requiring customers to invest in owned aircraft. Target buyers are defense forces, civil protection agencies, NATO and humanitarian organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grille: 9X series - Electric unmanned aircraft for medical evacuation, patient transport and resupply missions with 175kg payload capacity
• Wespe
• Bussard
• RasCore

Products and services

• Grille (9X series) Electric unmanned aircraft for medical evacuation, patient transport and resupply missions with up to 175 kg payload capacity, autonomous flight and GNSS-independent navigation. Targeted at defense forces for casualty evacuation and battlefield resupply.
• Wespe (9Y series) Multi-role unmanned aircraft for logistics, wildfire response, humanitarian relief and maritime operations with up to 350 kg total payload capacity. Designed for civil protection and defense logistics missions.
• Bussard (9Z series) Long-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with 2,500 km range, 14-hour endurance and 150 kg payload capacity. Designed for defense and security ISR missions.
• Aircraft as a Service Operational service model providing critical air support as a managed service tailored to mission profiles such as logistics, surveillance or medical support. Customers access operational capability immediately without upfront capital investment, validate concepts under real-world conditions, and can later either procure their own systems or continue as long-term operational partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces flight-hour costs to a fraction of conventional systems while maintaining performance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RASCAP ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026European Defence Agency (EDA)-funded consortium advancing Robotic and Autonomous Systems for rescue and medical support operations. Avilus leads flight testing activities with Grille aircraft. Includes 10 partners: Avilus, Axnes AS, Epiguard AS, Nordiq Products AS, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), KNDS, TUM-FSD, TUM-MED, Watchbird AS.
• HENSOLDTcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2025HENSOLDT and Avilus expanding cooperation through integration of sensor technologies. HENSOLDT's AMPS-M self-protection system, PrecISR radar, and MissMarvin operating system integrated into Avilus UAV platforms Wespe and Bussard for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
• Breezer AircraftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Since beginning of 2025, Breezer Aircraft and Avilus have joined forces as one team. Collaboration brings together Breezer's manufacturing expertise with Avilus' innovations in unmanned systems and avionics. While Bussard is designed and tested in Bavaria, it is built in Schleswig-Holstein - a supply chain with strong German footprint.
• KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvilus and KNDS collaborating on protected version of control room (P-PECC) integrated into BOXER armored vehicle. Partnership includes development of software plugins for SitaWare Suite providing digital command integration across all rescue chain levels.
• IFASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIFAS (production partner) helped realize RAS-PECC (Patient Evacuation Coordination Cell) mobile control room within three months. RAS-PECC carries ground control segment for robotic and autonomous systems.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific leadership and research partnership in iMEDCAP consortium. TUM coordinates the European Defence Fund project. Also partner in RASCAP consortium for flight testing activities.
• iMEDCAP ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Defence Fund project (Grant Agreement No. 101121421) with 24 partners from 9 nations. Develops fully integrated chain of robotic and autonomous systems for rescue of wounded soldiers within 'Golden Hour'. Led by Technical University of Munich.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TEKEVER: European unmanned aerial systems provider focused on defense, security, and maritime surveillance. Comparable to Avilus through dual-use ISR UAS offerings and NATO-aligned European defense customer base.
• Wingcopter: German VTOL drone manufacturer focused on medical cargo delivery, logistics, and public services. Comparable to Avilus through its German origin, VTOL fixed-wing hybrid airframes, and emphasis on healthcare/logistics missions.
• Quantum Systems: German manufacturer of dual-use unmanned aircraft systems for defense, security, and commercial use, with a focus on autonomous ISR and reconnaissance platforms. Closest geographic and product-line peer to Avilus, competing for similar European defense and civil protection contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Anduril Industries: Large US defense technology company developing autonomous air, ground, and undersea systems for military and homeland security. Competes with Avilus in autonomous defense UAS, with much broader portfolio and capital base.
• Shield AI: US defense technology company building AI-piloted autonomous aircraft (Hivemind) and unmanned systems. Comparable to Avilus through focus on fully autonomous military aircraft and contested-environment operations.
• AeroVironment: US defense and commercial unmanned aircraft systems manufacturer supplying tactical ISR and loitering munitions to military customers. Comparable to Avilus as an established defense UAS provider in overlapping mission segments.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: US manufacturer of long-endurance unmanned aircraft (Predator, Reaper, MQ-9) for ISR and strike missions. Comparable to Avilus through fixed-wing long-endurance ISR UAV platform (Bussard) focus area.
• Airbus Defence and Space: European aerospace prime with unmanned aerial system programs (e.g., Eurodrone) and broader defense aviation portfolio. Comparable to Avilus as a large incumbent competing in European military UAS procurement.
• Thales Group: European defense and aerospace prime providing unmanned aerial systems, sensors, and mission systems. Comparable to Avilus through overlap in European defense ISR, sensor integration, and battle-management solutions.

Emerging players

• Skydio: US autonomous drone manufacturer with an expanding defense and public safety business segment. Comparable to Avilus through autonomous flight capability, dual-use positioning, and growing defense customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AVILUSGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avilus
• Instagraminstagram.com/avilus.defence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 avilus