The Donaustahl Mission
01
Mission & History
The Patriotic Disruptor.
The established arms industry is too slow, too complex, and too dependent. It manages the status quo instead of challenging it.
We are the antithesis of this.
Donaustahl was founded in 2020, but our true mission began at the end of 2023. Faced with a fundamentally changed security situation—the so-called turning point—and an industry unable to react quickly enough, we undertook a radical realignment. We jettisoned bureaucratic processes and focused on what truly matters: speed, innovation, and absolute sovereignty.
We are the Bavarian company challenging corporations. "There is no box" isn't just a motto, it's our DNA. We combine the quality of German engineering with the radical agility of an offensive startup. We are here to shake up the industry and make Europe more secure.
The rebellious designer: The person behind the technology.
Sovereignty is not created in committees, but in the factory halls. This conviction drives Stefan Thumann, our CEO and Chief Designer.
Stefan Thumann: "I am not a typical defense CEO. I despise management consultants, windbags, and buzzword jugglers. My unconventional career path shapes the culture of Donaustahl. My background enables me to look at problems from unique perspectives and find solutions that would be unthinkable within traditional structures."
Thumann has been described as the bulldozer of European defense technology. He is considered a doer who rejects bureaucratic hurdles and combines technical excellence with strategic vision and a clear patriotic attitude. At Donaustahl, leadership means being at the forefront of development.
We act where others are still discussing.
2020: The founding
The origin
Stefan Thumann founded Donaustahl GmbH. This was the starting point for the vision of an unconventional engineering achievement "Made in Germany" that challenged the status quo.
2024: The Strategic Pivot
Response to the changing times
The realization that Europe's security requires a new pace. A radical reorientation toward offensive tech in response to the inertia of the established industry and the changing geopolitical situation.
2025: Innovation offensive
Technological breakthrough
Development of disruptive core technologies: The modular ALMP architecture, the technologically superior combat stack with the "soldering-free production" paradigm, and the focus on in-house weapons development.
02
Donaustahl in numbers
100%
Maximum supply security and independence. No critical US or Chinese components.
German value added
(from 2026)
20.000+
We are establishing the new standard for industrialized FPV systems in Europe through automated manufacturing.
Combat Stacks per month
(from 2026)
10+
Securing our technological lead through radical innovations.
Own patents and inventions
30.000+
Scalable production without compromises.
Combat stacks per month
(from 2026)
03
Our attitude
We're not only redefining offensive tech, but also the way we work. In an industry dominated by bureaucracy and convention, we've created a culture of radical agility. Our mission requires a mindset fundamentally different from the establishment.
Speed
before process
Can-do mentality.
We are engineers and doers, not administrators. We invest our energy in developing functional solutions, not in theoretical concepts. What counts for us is the results on the shop floor and in the field, not the presentation in the meeting room.
Speed
before process
Radical agility.
The reality of modern requirements doesn't wait for bureaucratic approvals. We prioritize direct implementation and maximum acceleration of innovation cycles. We measure success in days and weeks, not quarters.
Responsibility
before hierarchy
Developer "Auftragstaktik"
Ideas and expertise are irrelevant. We promote a culture of radical personal responsibility (contract-based tactics). We rely on competence, not control.
We're looking for people with conviction.
If you hate bureaucracy, are willing to challenge conventions, and want to deliver real results for Europe's sovereignty, we want to meet you.