ARX Robotics, a Munich-based company specializing in scalable robotic systems for both defense and commercial use, has successfully raised a €31 million Series A funding round. This investment round, led by HV Capital, also saw participation from Omnes Capital, with strong backing from existing investors such as the NATO Innovation Fund and Project A. This comes just a year after the company raised €9 million in seed funding.
With this fresh funding, ARX Robotics plans to enter the next phase of its growth strategy. The company will focus on scaling production capabilities, accelerating its expansion across key European markets, and enhancing its AI-driven defense technologies. A major goal is to continue investing in top-tier European AI talent while improving ARX Mithra OS, its autonomous defense operating system, which serves as the backbone for its next-gen robotic systems.
Meeting Europe’s Growing Demand for Autonomous Systems
As Europe’s geopolitical landscape shifts, there is an increasing push for defense modernization and strategic autonomy. Despite land operations accounting for 80% of military activities and 70% of material usage, land-based operations remain significantly under-automated. ARX Robotics is addressing this gap by digitizing and automating European defense forces with cutting-edge unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), modernized legacy systems, and seamless AI-powered connectivity across land, air, and sea.
5 Key Aspects of ARX Robotics
1. Founders with Battlefield Experience
ARX Robotics was founded in 2021 by three German Army veterans: Marc Wietfeld, Stefan Roebel, and Maximilian Wied. Their firsthand military experience gives them unique insights into the challenges faced by soldiers on the front lines, particularly the need for reliable unmanned systems to reduce human risk. This military background allows ARX to develop solutions that are combat-relevant and operationally effective, giving the company a distinct edge over civilian robotics firms.
2. Field-Proven in Ukraine
ARX Robotics’ technology has been rigorously tested in combat conditions, particularly in Ukraine. Their UGVs have been deployed in diverse environments, providing critical support for military operations and humanitarian efforts. The ruggedness and modularity of these systems, coupled with their autonomous navigation features, have proven invaluable in Ukraine’s complex terrain—from urban ruins to muddy countryside. These real-world deployments have provided key insights, allowing ARX to refine its software and hardware designs for even greater performance in unpredictable environments.
3. Mithra OS: Transforming Vehicles into Autonomous Machines
One of ARX’s standout innovations is Mithra OS, a military-grade operating system that transforms both new and existing vehicles into smart, autonomous machines. By retrofitting legacy systems with Mithra, ARX helps military forces save on costly hardware upgrades, offering a cost-effective solution for creating autonomous fleets. Mithra OS enables autonomous navigation, real-time decision-making, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication, functioning as a “brain upgrade” for military vehicles.
4. Strategic Partnerships for Enhanced Capabilities
ARX Robotics is forging strategic partnerships with leaders in aerial robotics, such as Elistair and Quantum Systems, to integrate drones and ground robots into unified systems. These collaborations enhance situational awareness, improve intelligence gathering, and speed up mission response times. By combining unmanned systems from different domains, ARX is creating a multi-domain robotic ecosystem that is highly adaptable for modern military needs.
5. Dual-Use Applications for Military and Humanitarian Aid
While ARX Robotics is primarily a defense company, its systems have dual-use potential. The company designs autonomous vehicles that can serve both military and civilian purposes, such as disaster relief, search-and-rescue, and humanitarian aid delivery. For instance, ARX’s GEREON platform can be used to transport medical supplies in earthquake zones or assist in wildfire containment. This flexibility opens up new market opportunities and aligns with governments’ goals of leveraging technology for both security and humanitarian purposes.
ARX Robotics has already proven its ability to deploy large-scale UGV fleets, including the largest Western fleet in Ukraine. The company’s €31 million Series A funding will allow it to further scale its operations and deepen its presence across NATO nations. As Marc Wietfeld, CEO of ARX Robotics, puts it, “We are building the company that will define the category of modular, software-driven defense systems in Europe.”
With strong support from investors and a proven track record, ARX Robotics is poised to continue innovating in autonomous defense technologies and making a significant impact on the future of warfare and humanitarian operations.
