The German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems, whose headquarters is located near Munich, announced this Thursday that an internal audit has uncovered an ongoing cyberattack, carried out in late October by “hostile actors.”
“The threat was contained thanks to the rapid response of our IT (Information Technologies) and security teams, in close and transparent collaboration with the authorities,” the company said in an official statement, in which it also stressed that there is no danger for end users or for operators when handling their unmanned aerial systems.
In any case, the company emphasized that “the incident is being investigated in collaboration with state authorities, as well as with external and internal cybersecurity experts.”
As a precautionary measure, the German Armed Forces have decided to temporarily withdraw the drones manufactured by Quantum Systems, according to the newspaper 'Financial Times'. For the moment, the German Ministry of Defense has offered no comments on the matter.
The drones developed by Quantum are being used, among others, by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the conflict against Russia. “Companies that are at the forefront in supporting Ukraine are targeted with attacks precisely because our work is fundamental to the security of our clients,” the firm said.
“Aware of this responsibility, Quantum Systems has mitigation plans and strives to comply with the highest standards of data and system security,” the company added, reiterating its commitment to protecting its technological infrastructure.