Destinus acquires Daedalean to expand artificial intelligence capabilities in flight systems

Destinus Group BV today announced it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Zurich-based Daedalean AG, a leader in aviation AI solutions, for CHF 180 million (approximately USD 225 million) in a combined cash-and-stock transaction. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of 2025, integrates state-of-the-art AI into Destinus’s core products, significantly enhancing the company’s technological strength.

Founded in 2016, Daedalean is a pioneer in safety-critical, certifiable AI avionics software that enables AI-assisted piloting, environmental awareness, and navigation in GNSS-denied environments.

The transaction is pivotal for Destinus’ strategy to broaden artificial intelligence solutions for unmanned flight systems in civil and defense markets, notably strengthening its market position.

Tim Moser, Co-founder and CTO of Destinus, commented: “This acquisition strengthens our technological position by adding world-class AI expertise and deep-learning specialists. Integrating Daedalean’s innovative solutions and exceptional team will accelerate our strategy to develop, certify, and launch intelligent UAV systems for defense and civil markets.”

“Joining Destinus is a logical next step after our successful collaboration,” added Bas Gouverneur, CEO of Daedalean. “Together, we’ll deliver innovative AI-driven autonomy, swarm intelligence, and sophisticated decision-making tools to market faster, making flight safer, more resilient, and operationally flexible.”

Daedalean’s team includes more than 150 specialists, among them 13 PhDs with deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and avionics. Integrating Daedalean’s solutions accelerates Destinus’ ability to deliver intelligent UAV systems.

The AI solutions developed by Daedalean will enhance human operators’ effectiveness and support decision-making in managing flight systems and drone swarms. These tools improve tactical insight and significantly boost mission adaptability, resilience, and operational effectiveness.

The two companies previously collaborated successfully, making the integration of artificial intelligence into Destinus products a natural next step. Combining Destinus’ aerospace engineering with Daedalean’s software and AI expertise will accelerate innovation, reduce time-to-market, and enhance global competitiveness.

Rothschild & Co is acting as financial advisor to Destinus on the acquisition of Daedalean. Hogan Lovells (Amsterdam) and Walder Wyss (Zurich) are serving as legal counsel to Destinus.