Destinus Secures €50 Million to Boost Autonomous Flight
Dutch aerospace and defense technology company Destinus has secured a €50 million financing facility from Commerzbank to support its next phase of industrial expansion throughout Europe. This new facility adds to €140 million in recently completed convertible instruments and shareholder loans, alongside earlier equity rounds, bringing Destinus’s total capital to nearly €400 million.
When Destinus was founded in 2021, its goal was to develop hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft capable of flying at Mach 5+, potentially reducing intercontinental flight times, such as Europe to Australia, from around 20 hours to just four. Initial experimental aircraft like the Jungfrau and Eiger were built to test aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and materials for future hypersonic “hyperplanes,” establishing Destinus as one of Europe’s leading innovators in green, ultra-fast aviation.
Over the past two years, however, Destinus has shifted focus toward more immediate, commercially feasible opportunities. Instead of pursuing large-scale hypersonic passenger planes, the company is now concentrating on near-term, dual-use aerospace technologies, especially autonomous and uncrewed systems. Its current portfolio features UAV platforms LORD, RUTA, and Hornet, which are designed for surveillance, mapping, rapid response, and defense functions.
This strategic pivot became even clearer in 2025 with the acquisition of Swiss AI avionics firm Daedalean, reportedly valued between $220 - 225 million. The move demonstrates Destinus’s commitment to AI-driven autonomy and deployable solutions, particularly in defense and security sectors where demand is strong and timelines are well defined.
Destinus continues to fortify its role within the Dutch and wider European defense industry. With a workforce of 750 engineers and specialists across the continent, the company integrates AI-driven engineering, vertical integration, and large-scale production capabilities to design and manufacture autonomous systems and effectors.
“Securing this facility marks an important milestone for Destinus and signals confidence in Europe’s ability to deliver high-performance autonomous flight systems at scale. It strengthens our production roadmap and quickens the industrialization of our platforms for European and allied customers,” said Founder and CEO Mikhail Kokorich.
The newly raised capital will fuel the growth of Destinus’s manufacturing lines, integration sites, and testing facilities, enabling the company to supply scalable, cost-effective autonomous systems that bolster European defense readiness and reinforce sovereign industrial capacity across allied nations.