Destinus buys radar AI startup Perciv to take sensing in-house
What's the deal? Dutch defense firm DestinusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired Perciv AI, a Delft-based developer of AI radar perception software, for undisclosed terms. Perciv becomes Destinus's centre for radar perception, with its founding team staying on to lead it.
What does Perciv do? Spun out of TU Delft, the startup builds neural-network models that process radar data for object detection and tracking, including targets with a low radar cross section. Its software also supports navigation when GNSS signals are unavailable or degraded.
Founded by Andras Palffy, Balazs Szekeres, and Srimannarayana Baratam, Perciv raised a €2.5 million seed round in 2024 from DayOne CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Keen Venture PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Vinci Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? Destinus is pulling more of its technology stack in-house. Another Destinus company, Daedalean, already provides optical perception and GNSS-denied navigation, while a joint venture with TNODealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → develops radar seeker technologies.
"Radar perception needs to be developed as part of the complete system," said Mikhail Kokorich, founder and chief executive officer of Destinus. "Bringing Perciv AI into Destinus gives us control over a critical technology."
Why now? This is Destinus's third acquisition in the Netherlands, following OPRA assets in 2023 and AerialtronicsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in 2025. It follows its purchase of Swiss flight-control AI firm Daedalean and a recent commercial partnership with drone maker Helsing.
Palffy, now director of technology, said the company's year of work with Destinus "showed the value of connecting perception research directly to system development."
The signal: The deal reflects a broader push by defense firms to vertically integrate sensing and autonomy as they scale production. The timing is notable: Bloomberg reported that Helsing was in talks to invest in Destinus at a roughly €6 billion valuation, though that has not been confirmed.
Read more: resiliencemedia.co
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
