Helsing, the German launch of Defense Technology supported by Daniel EK of Spotify and others, produces 6,000 HX-2 Strike Drones in addition to 4,000 HF-1 Strike Drones funded by Germany currently delivered to Ukraine.
“We are airing the HX-2 production in response to additional orders from Ukraine,” said Helsing Gundbert Scherf’s co-founder in a statement.
The announcement comes shortly after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, asking questions about how longer the conflict can last.
Strike Drones, as their name implies, are armed aircraft used in military operations, HELSING interval revolved to In 2024, the company started as a AI software game, but now claims its point as “one of the largest strike manufacturers in the world”, according to its latest announcement.
The aircraft, especially the drones of the first person (FPV) Kamikaze managed by human pilots, have played a critical role in providing Ukraine aid to compensate for its numerical and equipment against Russia.
Even low -cost drones fpv is capable of hitting precisionand many are Manufactured in Ukraine by manufacturers of state, commercial and basesBut Helsing models add the ability to be assembled in flocks.
However, Helsing does not become a full material company. Instead, his bet is in a mixture of hardware and software, including Altra platform Drones connection. “We solve the hard problems in the software mattress, not in electronics,” said another of the co-founders of Helsing, “Niklas Köhler.” HX-2 is only the first of a whole range of products based on this condition. “
Revealed at the end of 2024, the Hx-2 kamikaze drone model It incorporates AI, but is also designed to be a manufacturer on a scale.
When it comes to autonomous aircraft, AI is more than a trick. It helps the machines find their goals even when communications are blocked and the data signal is lost. But cost is also important, especially for Kamikaze devices. That is why Helsing also wanted production to be escalating.
The company has not revealed pricing, but claims that its approach leads to lower unit costs and more scalable production than competitive options such as Aerovield Switchblade and advanced sensors.
Resilience factories
Unlike HF-1 drones, which are done in collaboration with the Ukrainian industry, these newer devices are intended to be manufactured in production facilities that separate names “Resilience factories“And he plans to build all over Europe.
Building several installations, instead of concentrating production, has the advantage of being able to come from local supply chains and labor dynamics, which is often a requirement by national defense departments for reasons of sovereignty.
According to the company, its first resilience plant in southern Germany is now operational, with an initial monthly production capacity of more than 1,000 hx-2. Like other similar installations, it can also “escalate production rates in tens of thousands of units in the event of a collision”.
HELSING announcement was made on its stay Munich Security Conferenceconfirming southern Germany as a defense node. An exhibition released this week by the Dealroom and the NATO innovation fund revealed that the country secured Europe’s top position on defense, durability and security funding in 2024, with Munich’s main cluster.
Helsing himself played a major role in this funding with a series of $ 487 million he raised by General Catalyst and others last year. The boot, which has pulled some 761.5 million euros To date (or about $ 791 million), revealed a strategic cooperation With the French champion AI Mistral this week during the Ai Ai Action. “Europe must claim its power as a geopolitical actress and AI’s leadership is the key to this power and future security and prosperity of Europe,” Scherf said.
