Daedalean acquired by Destinus in CHF 180 million deal to advance AI-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) autonomy

Daedalean, a Swiss pioneer in AI flight avionics, is being acquired by aerospace innovator Destinus in a CHF 180 million cash-and-stock deal. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of 2025, aims to combine Daedalean’s advanced AI technologies with Destinus’s hypersonic and UAV systems. The goal: to accelerate the development of intelligent, autonomous aircraft for both civil and defense applications.

Daedalean, the Zurich-based AI flight systems pioneer, has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by aerospace company Destinus for CHF 180 million in a mix of cash and stock. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of 2025, will merge Daedalean’s cutting-edge AI avionics with Destinus’s expertise in high-speed and unmanned aircraft systems. This strategic move positions both companies to become leaders in next-generation autonomous aviation, with applications across the defense and civilian sectors.
 

Founded in 2016, Daedalean has established a strong reputation for its certifiable AI-based avionics software, which enables critical capabilities such as visual navigation, situational awareness, and autonomous decision-making—even in GPS-denied environments. The company employs more than 150 people, including 13 PhDs, and has developed flight systems that are actively being certified for commercial use. By integrating this advanced AI technology, Destinus aims to significantly accelerate its development of intelligent, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
 

“Joining Destinus is a logical next step after our successful collaboration. 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,” said Daedalean CEO Bas Gouverneur.

Daedalean was ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award in 2018 and in the TOP 100 Scale-Ups in 2022 and 2023.