At the ILA Berlin Air Show, Quantum Systems today unveiled Pulse P19, its sovereign multi-role aircraft for airborne drone detection and defence, in the presence of Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz.

The new optionally piloted aircraft marks Quantum Systems' expansion into the medium-altitude and multi-role aerial domain and the companies' first platform designed for both crewed and uncrewed operations.

As LALE and MALE UAVs (Low-Altitude / Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance) have proven increasingly vulnerable in Ukraine and other conflicts, the new Pulse P19 was designed to deliver persistent mission endurance while offering significantly higher speed, a more competitive cost profile, integrated counter-drone (C-UAS) capabilities and high payload capacity.

Developed and manufactured in Germany, Pulse P19 combines the flexibility of a modern mission aircraft with the ability to operate in both manned and unmanned configurations, giving operators a wider variety of mission profiles, like ISR, training and C-UAS flights. Fully integrated into Quantum Systems' MOSAIC UXS software ecosystem, Pulse P19 becomes part of a networked, software-defined force, seamlessly connecting with air and ground systems to enable manned-unmanned teaming, recce-strike missions and rapid integration of new capabilities.

The unveiling on 10 June at ILA 2026 took place in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reflecting the growing importance of sovereign airborne defence capabilities for Germany, Europe and its allies.

"The changing character of warfare has exposed the limitations of traditional MALE drones," said Florian Seibel, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Quantum Systems. "Armed forces need capabilities that are faster, more affordable and scalable enough to keep pace with emerging threats. Pulse P19 was designed to meet that challenge. By combining medium-altitude endurance with significantly higher speed and a more scalable cost profile than conventional platforms, it delivers a persistent airborne capability for detecting, tracking and countering unmanned threats. At the same time, it marks our ambition to become the leading neo-prime for the unmanned era."

"Pulse P19 challenged us to rethink what this class of aircraft could be," said Lars Peter, Chief Engineer of Pulse P19. "Instead of choosing between a manned aircraft and an unmanned system, we designed a platform that brings both worlds together. The result is an aircraft that combines speed, endurance and affordability with a clear pathway towards autonomy but also rethinking how a modern cockpit design integrates tactical management software and interfaces for the pilots.

With Pulse P19, Quantum Systems continues its evolution from an unmanned systems manufacturer to a provider of integrated operational ecosystems spanning air, ground and software domains, adding a new medium-altitude air capability to its portfolio.