ARX Robotics, a Munich-based company specialising in scalable robotic systems for both defence and commercial applications, has closed a €31 million Series A funding round. It was led by HV Capital with participation from Omnes Capital and significant support from existing investors NATO Innovation Fund and Project A. This follows the €9 million seed funding raised last year.
With the Series A funding round, ARX Robotics is entering the next phase of growth and plans to significantly scale production, accelerate its European expansion into key markets, and strengthen its AI-driven defence capabilities. The company plans to continue investing in top-tier European AI talent and further enhancing ARX Mithra OS as the backbone of autonomous defence.
Europe’s shifting geopolitical landscape is driving a renewed focus on defence modernisation and strategic autonomy. As European nations bolster their capabilities, demand for advanced, AI-driven autonomous systems is rising. Land operations remain vastly under-automated, despite accounting for 80% of all military activities, 70% of material usage, and 40% of total procurement. ARX Robotics is bridging this gap by digitising and autonomising European forces, equipping them with advanced capabilities through high-performance UGVs, modernised legacy systems, and seamless AI-driven connectivity across land, air, and sea domains.
Here are 5 things to know about ARX Robotics.
Founders with battlefield experience
Unlike many tech startups led purely by engineers, ARX Robotics was founded in 2021 by three German Army veterans: Marc Wietfeld, Stefan Roebel, and Maximilian Wied. Their direct experience on modern battlefields gave them deep insight into frontline challenges, especially the need for reliable unmanned systems that reduce risk for human soldiers. This military background allows ARX to design products that aren’t just theoretically functional but actually combat-relevant. It also means they understand military procurement processes and operational demands a huge advantage when dealing with defence customers. Their military DNA sets ARX apart from typical civilian robotics firms.
Field-proven in Ukraine
ARX Robotics’ technology has been tested under real combat conditions. Their unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have been deployed in Ukraine, supporting military operations and humanitarian missions alike. The ruggedness, modularity, and autonomous navigation features have proven crucial in Ukraine’s complex battlefield terrain, ranging from urban ruins to muddy countryside. These real-world deployments validate the practical impact of ARX’s innovations. Insights gained from Ukraine have helped ARX refine its AI software and hardware designs, ensuring future versions are even better tailored to fast-moving, unpredictable environments.
Mithra OS: A game-changing military AI
One of ARX Robotics’ most impressive innovations is Mithra OS, a military-grade operating system that transforms old or new vehicles into smart, autonomous machines. Instead of needing entirely new hardware, military forces can retrofit existing ground platforms with Mithra, massively reducing costs. Mithra OS enables autonomous navigation, real-time decision-making, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication in a swarm-like system. It essentially acts as a “brain upgrade” for military fleets. This move towards software-defined defence hardware mirrors trends seen in the automotive and aerospace industries, and positions ARX as a leader in the emerging field of battlefield AI infrastructure.
Strategic partnerships strengthen ARX’s power
ARX Robotics is not building its empire alone but also strategic partnerships that amplify its reach. It teamed up with aerial robotics leaders like Elistair and Quantum Systems to integrate drones and ground robots into unified operational networks. For example, the German Army has tested joint drone-UGV systems that provide both aerial and terrestrial surveillance during missions. These collaborations enable layered situational awareness, better intelligence gathering, and faster mission response times. By combining different unmanned systems into cohesive teams, ARX is creating flexible, multi-domain robotic capabilities. This makes their offering much more attractive to modern militaries preparing for complex hybrid conflicts.
Dual-use focus: Military and humanitarian
While ARX Robotics is fundamentally a defence company, it strongly emphasises dual-use applications. Its autonomous ground vehicles are designed not just for military reconnaissance or logistics but also for civilian disaster relief, search-and-rescue missions, and humanitarian aid delivery. For example, a GEREON platform could be adapted to deliver medical supplies across earthquake-hit regions or assist in wildfire containment operations. This dual-use philosophy increases the company’s market opportunities and resonates with governments looking for tech that supports both security and humanitarian goals. It also reflects ARX’s mission to reduce human risk — whether on battlefields or in disaster zones.
“The demand for modular, software-driven defence systems is growing rapidly—and we’re building the company that will define this category in Europe”, said Marc Wietfeld, co-founder and CEO of ARX Robotics “At the core of ARX Robotics is a clear mission: to build the next generation of defence infrastructure through scalable robotics and software. We’re happy to be partnering with such renowned investors who back this mission. This fresh funding is an important milestone and catalyst that allows us to move from successful deployments to industrial scale.”
Fabian Gruner, Partner at HV Capital, said: “ARX is proof that Europe can build internationally relevant defence technology: modern, AI-native, and strategically sovereign. Their rapid deployment across Europe is a testament to both the urgency and strength of their product. HV Capital is thrilled to back this exceptional team and their mission.”
Chris O’Connor, Partner at NATO Innovation Fund said, “We are proud of the tremendous progress the ARX Robotics team has made over the previous year, including growing their suite of products to address the legacy ground fleet, expanding geographic reach and building a world class team. ARX Robotics has fielded the largest Western UGV fleet to Ukraine and we look forward to continuing to support the company as it expands its reach across NATO nations.”
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