Munich/Berlin – October 19, 2026 – Auterion and Project Q, two European defense technology companies built around open architectures, have completed the first milestone in their partnership under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2026.
The two companies have connected Auterion's open and secure software stack for autonomous unmanned systems, including AuterionOS and Auterion Mission Control (AMC), with HYDRIS, Project Q's open integration and orchestration layer for connected operations. The integration connects AMC and HYDRIS in a seamless, bidirectional data exchange, feeding track data into Auterion's mission environment while returning operational information from Auterion-powered unmanned systems to HYDRIS.
This creates a shared, multi-vendor operational picture in which sensors, unmanned systems and other connected assets can work together without locking users into a single vendor ecosystem.
"What makes working with Auterion so exciting is how closely their philosophy and vision match ours,” said Leonard Wessendorff, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Q. “They have been pushing open architectures in unmanned systems for years. We share the belief that the future of defence is not a single vertically integrated stack, but an open ecosystem where customers can combine the best capabilities for their mission. Connecting HYDRIS and Auterion is a great example of exactly that.”
The partnership is built on a shared commitment to open architectures and open-source. Auterion has deep roots in the PX4 open-source autopilot ecosystem, while HYDRIS is built around an Apache 2.0-licensed open code. Both companies build commercial products and services on top of these foundations while preserving interoperability, modularity and customer control. The result is an architecture in which customers can combine capabilities across vendors rather than being locked into a vertically integrated proprietary stack.
Lorenz Meier, founder and CEO of Auterion said "Modern defence capability is built in software, and no single company can build all of it. Our model is simple: we provide the open operating system, and partners like Project Q add the layers armed forces need. Connecting HYDRIS with Auterion Mission Control is a first step, and every integration like this makes the whole ecosystem stronger."
In practice, a newly built connector now links the two platforms. Sensor detections, drone positions and tasking commands pass between AMC and HYDRIS in both directions, without either company having to redesign its own system.
About Auterion
Auterion is the global leader in open, vendor-agnostic operating systems for autonomous drones and robotic systems. Auterion has a global footprint in Arlington, VA and Munich, Germany. Auterion's technology powers unmanned systems for defence customers including the U.S. Department of War, UK Ministry of Defence, German Bundeswehr, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
About Project Q
Project Q is a European defence tech company with offices in Munich and Berlin. We develop integration infrastructure for modern security and defence ecosystems and connect sensors, unmanned systems, command and mission systems, and other capabilities for armed forces, security agencies, and critical infrastructure operators. To do this, we rely on HYDRIS, our proprietary open-source integration and orchestration solution. HYDRIS brings together commercially available (COTS) technologies, data sources, and existing legacy systems into a single operational environment. Through open standards, AI-powered data processing, edge computing, and distributed operations, HYDRIS provides a vendor-neutral foundation for resilient and technologically sovereign operations.
Auterion
Torben Gosau
Kekst CNC
+49 160 969 435 17
auterion@kekstcnc.com
Project Q
Manja Domack
Head of Public Affairs & Communications
+49 151 726 331 54
mdomack@project-q.ai