Berlin Startup Pleno Joins European Defence Company Stark
Johannes Schaback (CTO Stark Defence) and Nino Lindenberg (CEO/CTO Pleno) - © Stark via Linkedin
European defense technology company Stark has announced the acquisition of Berlin-based tech startup Pleno, marking a significant expansion of autonomous drone capabilities in the German capital's growing defense tech sector.
Founded in August 2023 by Nino Lindenberg and Ngurah Linggih, Pleno has quickly established itself as a pioneer in autonomous flight control systems for cost-effective drones. The startup's navigation software enables drones to operate reliably without GNSS reception, addressing critical challenges in modern defense applications.
The young company has already garnered international recognition, winning first place at Bitkom's Dronetech Challenge and the German Armed Forces' Cyber Innovation Hub during the Berlin Security Conference 2024. Pleno further cemented its reputation by claiming the "Autonomous Hero" title at XPonential in Houston, the world's largest autonomy event.
According to information from Militär Aktuell, Pleno brings sophisticated tools including Pleno Sim and Pleno Lab to Stark's portfolio. These development platforms focus on AI-driven flight autonomy, swarm behavior, and simulation capabilities that will directly integrate into Stark's loitering munition and autonomous drone swarm projects, including the Virtus (OWE-V) platform.
"Pleno is the ideal complement to Stark – both technologically and culturally," said Johannes Schaback, co-founder and CTO of Stark. The acquisition brings leading AI expertise and a team focused on implementation strength to the company.
Lindenberg, who completed military training in Germany, built Pleno's first functional prototype in collaboration with a Ukrainian AI module manufacturer, accumulating over 300 flight hours with the autonomous system in 2024.
The combined companies aim to advance GNSS-independent swarm intelligence with systems capable of operating without constant radio connections – addressing the increasing automation demands of modern conflicts while strengthening NATO and European defense capabilities.
