Delft-based Arceon, a company developing Advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites (ArCMC) to improve materials and structures, secures investment from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI).
The announcement comes ten months after the Blue Magic investment and innovation conference in the Netherlands last November, where GA-ASI and its partners heard pitches from innovative Dutch companies about the important technologies they are developing.
The event was organised collaboratively between GA-ASI, the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Brainport Development in Eindhoven, and Brabant Development Agency (BOM).
GA-ASI chose Arceon after a presentation at the BMN event, along with extensive discussions on business and technology with GA-ASI and its affiliates — General Atomics Energy and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems.
“We’re excited to be working with Arceon,” says Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. “Their technology could have a broad range of applications for GA, from high-temperature engine exhaust materials to hypersonics and fusion containment.”
Arceon now joins Emergent Swarm Solutions and Saluqi Motors as the companies receiving investment from GA-ASI following the BMN event.
The Dutch company also raised funding from Tenzing Alpha last year, back in October 2024.
Arceon: Developing Advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites
Founded in 2018 by Rahul Shirke, Bernhard Heidenreich, and Rahul Sharma, Arceon develops special materials (Ceramic Matrix Composites—CMCs) with unique properties, such as extreme heat resistance, superior durability, and reduced corrosion levels.
These composite materials, which include carbon, are far lighter than the special metal-based equivalents currently in use. The so-called ArCMC from Arceon can already be employed in satellite jet engines.
With a variety of production process advancements, Arceon also makes it possible to mass-manufacture these ceramic matrix composites.
The company already has a patent on the technology’s in-situ combination of smaller sub-segments.
By combining smaller ones, complicated shapes can be created with ease and without additional processing errors.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: Builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world’s foremost builder of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
The Predator line of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) has flown over 8 million hours in more than 30 years.
It includes the MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-20 Avenger, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian.
The company focuses on providing long-lasting, multi-use solutions for consistent situational awareness and quick strike capabilities.
The company is continuing to work with the Dutch government and Dutch industry in supporting the growth of technology innovation in the Netherlands and expects to hold its second BMN event in Eindhoven later this year.
GA-ASI is delivering eight MQ-9A aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).
GA-ASI specialised in unmanned aircraft systems and related mission systems.
The company hosted its first Blue Magic event in 2019 in Belgium, with subsequent events held in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
“We’re excited to be working with Arceon,” says Brad Lunn, managing director for GA-ASI. “Their technology could have a broad range of applications for GA, from high-temperature engine exhaust materials to hypersonics and fusion containment.”
