NRW.BANK announces its first investment in a defence technology start-up - The promotional bank invests in Skylance and its drone defence system
04 September 2026NRW.BANK is investing 500,000 euros in Skylance, a Hürth-based company near Cologne, as part of a financing round, marking its first investment in a defence start-up. The promotional bank is converting a convertible loan into an equity investment and providing additional capital. In total, the start-up raised more than one million euros from investors in this financing round. Skylance has developed the DroneHammer drone defence system, which is currently being tested and further developed in cooperation with the German Armed Forces.
“Start-ups can make an important contribution to our country’s security and resilience by developing new technologies,” says Gabriela Pantring, Chairwoman of NRW.BANK’s Managing Board. “Young companies need sufficient capital to bring such solutions to the market. Our investment in Skylance provides the necessary financial foundation.”
Drone defence is becoming increasingly important
The threat posed by drones has increased significantly in Germany. In 2025, the German Federal Criminal Police Office recorded more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights. The recent incident at Leipzig/Halle airport, where a drone carrying explosives was discovered, illustrates how real this risk is. As a result, demand is growing for technologies capable of intercepting drones quickly and cost-effectively.
The threat posed by drones has increased significantly in Germany. In 2025, the German Federal Criminal Police Office recorded more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights. The recent incident at Leipzig/Halle airport, where a drone carrying explosives was discovered, illustrates how real this risk is. As a result, demand is growing for technologies capable of intercepting drones quickly and cost-effectively.
Cost-effective drone defence technology
Skylance is developing such a solution. The start-up, founded in 2025 by Philipp Bohne, Dr. Tobias de Taillez and Dr. Olaf Wollersheim, develops drone defence technologies. Its core product is DroneHammer, a laserguided missile capable of destroying smaller drones. Weighing around 700 grams, the missile reaches speeds of more than 600 kilometres per hour. Skylance uses a combination of laser energy, software algorithms and image processing to recognise and track targets.
According to the company, at a price of under 3,000 euros per unit, DroneHammer is significantly less expensive than conventional systems, making defence against low-cost drones more cost-effective than before.
Funding for further development
NRW.BANK supported Skylance with a convertible loan of 200,000 euros, which is now being converted into an equity investment in the company. In addition, the Bank is investing 300,000 euros as part of the financing round. Alongside NRW.BANK, a consortium of experienced entrepreneurs and investors from the Investment Advisory Club Düsseldorf (IACD e.V.) is participating in the financing.
Skylance is currently testing and further developing the technology in cooperation with the German Armed Forces. The new capital will primarily be used to accelerate this development and prepare the next steps towards industrialisation and mass production.
For more information, visit www.nrwbank.de/start-up
Media contact: Caroline Fischer, Press Officer - Phone: +49 211 91741-1847