Product photos coming soon
Documents
Germany Quantum Systems
Vector AI
Government-only eVTOL tactical reconnaissance drone with AI-enabled onboard processing for GPS-denied operation, selected by the US Army for brigade-level ISR in 2026, used by German special forces, New Zealand's Army (as Vector Scorpion), and extensively in Ukraine.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗
72
km/h
60
km range
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
German export-licensed
BAFA licensing with strict end-use review; approvals can be politically constrained.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Competitive field
73 comparable systems from 36 other manufacturers
Counted in the WeaponSpecs database: UAVs built by another manufacturer that share at least one published role with this system. A count of what this catalog holds, not a survey of the whole market. See the alternatives →
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Overview
Vector AI is Quantum Systems' tactical electric-VTOL fixed-wing reconnaissance drone, sold exclusively to government and military customers as the defense-focused sibling of the company's commercial Trinity line. It packs AI-enabled onboard processing for real-time image analysis, reducing operator workload and improving performance in GPS-denied or electronically contested environments, and is built to operate from -20 to over 45 degrees Celsius with heated batteries for cold-weather use. The system ships in an 8.2kg backpack that one person can carry, is ready to fly within two minutes, and uses an AES-256-bit encrypted mission and data link. It has been adopted by German special forces and used extensively for reconnaissance in Ukraine, and in 2026 the US Army selected Vector AI to boost brigade-level ISR capabilities; a shorter-range, faster-deploying derivative is marketed as Vector Scorpion (in service with New Zealand's Army) alongside a multicopter Vector AI configuration for confined-area use.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 72 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 60 km |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. On a ground robot, published continuous run time on a full charge or fuel tank. | 3 h |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 2.8 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 10 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | AES-256 encrypted mission and data link |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Quantum Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-08-22.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Turkish Aerospace Industries ANKA-S 
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reaper Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Quantum Systems Vector AI? +
The Quantum Systems Vector AI has a maximum speed of 72 km/h.
What is the range of the Quantum Systems Vector AI? +
The Quantum Systems Vector AI has a maximum range of 60 km.
How much does the Quantum Systems Vector AI weigh? +
The Quantum Systems Vector AI has a combat weight of 10 kg.
How many crew does the Quantum Systems Vector AI require? +
The Quantum Systems Vector AI requires a crew of 0.
What is the Quantum Systems Vector AI used for? +
The Quantum Systems Vector AI is a uav / drone typically used for isr, reconnaissance, brigade level isr.
