Quantum Systems and Frontline JV to produce 10,000 Zoom and Linza UAVs in 2026

Image of Frontline Robotics' Zoom UAV. (Frontline Robotics )

Joint venture (JV) Quantum Frontline Industries, a partnership between Germany's Quantum Systems and Ukraine's Frontline Robotics, will produce at least 10,000 Zoom and Linza unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in 2026 for Ukraine in Germany, a Quantum Systems spokesperson told Janes on 16 December.

The 2026 order is based on “the demands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)” and “100% of the UAVs will be exclusively for Ukraine”, the spokesperson said. The production of Frontline's Zoom and Linza UAVs will begin at the start of 2026. The JV will be able to sell excess UAVs to NATO and allies in 2027, after the 10,000 UAV order is completed. Germany has expressed interest in procuring Ukrainian battle-tested technology but “nothing concrete yet”, the spokesperson added. The German government is funding all of the production and delivery. “The facility, tools, [and] equipment are in place,” the spokesperson added.

The decision for the JV to produce the UAVs was made after a number of “automated industry specialists were brought in” and a recommendation was made based on the UAVs being “easily mass-produced in a conveyor-type line”, explained the spokesperson. “Initially, we'll assemble [the UAVs] manually,” he said, adding the automation process will be introduced gradually.

Zoom is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) UAV with a 10-inch airframe, a tactical range of 15 km, and a flight time of over 35 minutes, according to Frontline. The UAV has a gyro-stabilised daytime camera with a resolution of 1280×720 and 10x optical zoom. The gyro-stabilised thermal imager has a resolution of 640×512 and a 30 Hz video refresh rate. The cruising flight speed is 12–15 m/s (43.2–54 km/h).