Munich Startup: What problem do you offer a solution for?
Thomas Mühlberger, CEO & Founder: SkyLanx is developing a modular platform to counter modern drone threats. It is primarily focused on FPV drones (Editor’s note: Pilots control first-person view drones using special video goggles), autonomous UAVs, and looking ahead, swarm attacks. These threats are evolving significantly faster than many existing defense systems.
Our platform combines several layers: detection, tracking, AI-based movement prediction, autonomous interceptor drones, and laser-based neutralization as the final escalation stage. What’s important is that we don’t view counter-UAS as a single device, but as an integrated, scalable architecture of sensors, software, decision logic, and effectors.
Our goal is not to build the largest or heaviest laser system. We optimize for mobile, modular, and economically viable protection systems for critical infrastructure, public authorities, airports, and selected defense applications.
Speed through an OEM-capable platform
Munich Startup: What can only you do as of today?
Thomas Mühlberger: There are many approaches, but in our view, a practical middle ground between simple RF solutions and large military high-energy laser systems has been missing so far. RF jamming is increasingly reaching its limits with autonomous, pre-programmed, or tethered drones. Large military laser systems, on the other hand, are powerful, but often expensive, complex, difficult to procure, and not scalable for many civil or semi-military applications.
SkyLanx deliberately positions itself in between. We rely on a modular, OEM-capable platform with medium laser power classes, AI-supported target tracking, and a multi-layered response model. This allows us to test faster, integrate faster, and reach pilot applications sooner.
Behind this is our “Validate–Differentiate–Own” strategy. We initially integrate the world’s best available technologies to turn ideas into validatable prototypes within a very short time. Only once technical feasibility and market potential have been proven do we invest specifically in in-house developments. And exclusively where they create a sustainable technological or economic competitive advantage.
That is an important point. We don’t want to spend resources building everything ourselves just because it’s technically possible. We develop in-house where it counts strategically: in system architecture, integration, AI-supported decision logic, and in the technological elements that truly differentiate us.
Munich Startup: What was the trigger for founding the company?
Thomas Mühlberger: The specific trigger was the significantly heightened drone threat in Germany in 2025. According to the BKA, more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights were registered by mid-December. Military facilities, airports, and other critical infrastructure were particularly affected. It was clear to us that existing security concepts were not keeping pace with the speed and technological development of modern drones. SkyLanx was created with the aim of closing precisely this gap and effectively protecting critical infrastructure with a modular, scalable, and economically deployable counter-UAS platform.
“The market is moving very fast”
Munich Startup: Was there a moment when you thought about giving up?
Thomas Mühlberger: Currently, the biggest challenge lies in translating deep tech into a procurable product. A functional prototype is important, but in the security and defense sector, that is not enough. You need verifiability, compliance, documentation, resilient supply chains, and a clear roadmap to product maturity; for a startup of our size, that is difficult and complex
On top of that, the market moves very fast. The threat landscape changes almost monthly. At the same time, procurement processes in Europe are often slow. Closing this gap is challenging. We need to stay fast technically, but at the same time build in a way that public authorities, critical infrastructure operators, and defense partners have confidence in the solution.
That is precisely why our strategy is so important. Validate first, then differentiate, then own in a targeted manner. That way we stay fast without relinquishing long-term technological control.
Munich Startup: How would you know in a year’s time that you are on the right track?
Thomas Mühlberger: In five years, SkyLanx aims to be established as a European counter-UAS platform, with operational systems for critical infrastructure, public authorities, airports, and selected defense applications.
Our next concrete development step is to be able to neutralize airborne drones at a distance of up to 300 meters using our system in autumn 2026. Subject to the successful closing of the ongoing funding round, we want to increase the range to up to one kilometer by the end of 2026 and demonstrate it under realistic conditions. For us, that would be the proof of concept.
Three things need to happen for this. First, we need to move our technology from TRL 6 towards field testing, productization, and pilot deployments. Second, we need reference installations with credible partners. Third, we need to build a sovereign, ITAR-free European system architecture.
Technological sovereignty is not a marketing term in this market, but an operational necessity. Europe must be able to protect critical security infrastructure with its own technologies. We want to contribute to this.
Building more bridges between startups, the public sector & defense actors
Munich Startup: Would you found a company in Munich again, and why?
Thomas Mühlberger: Munich is a very strong location for deeptech, defencetech, and industrial partnerships. There is capital market expertise, technical talent, proximity to industry, and a growing openness to security-relevant innovations. This environment is particularly valuable for founders who aren’t just building software, but need to bring together hardware, regulation, and procurement.
What we would like to see is even more bridge-building between startups, the public sector, industry, and defense actors. In our field, classic startup KPIs are not enough. It’s about demonstrators, certifications, procurement pathways, and pilot customers. This requires formats that lead more quickly from conversation to a real-world testing ground.
Munich Startup: Internationalize or DACH market leadership first?
Thomas Mühlberger: For us, it’s not an either-or. We pursue a dual-market strategy. In the short term, international and commercial markets are important because they can enable faster validation, real-world testing, and early revenue. At the same time, we are building the European, sovereign variant for long-term EU and NATO applications.
The DACH region and Europe remain strategically central, especially when it comes to critical infrastructure and defense. At the same time, the drone threat is global. Anyone who wants to be relevant in this market has to think globally, but deliver resiliently from a European base.
Our goal is therefore: rapid validation via global use cases, clear differentiation through technology, and long-term value creation through a European platform architecture.
