Germany Helsing Double on drones for Ukraine, reducing manufacturing
Helsing, the German defense technology startup 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 which are currently delivered in Ukraine.
“We increase the production of HX-2 in response to additional orders from Ukraine,” said the co-founder of Helsing, Gundbert Scherf, in a press release.
The announcement comes shortly after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, which raises how long the conflict could last.
Stock drones, as their name suggests, are armed drones used in military operations, a Helsing space pivoted in in 2024. The company began as a AI software packageBut now claims its place as “one of the largest manufacturers of strike drones in the world”, according to its last announcement.
Drones, in particular first -person Kamikaze drones (FPV), operated by human pilots, played an essential role by helping Ukraine compensate for its digital disadvantages and equipment against Russia.
Even low -cost FPV drones are Capable of precision strikesand many are Made in Ukraine by state manufacturers, commercial and popularBut Helsing models add the ability to assemble in swarms.
However, Helsing does not become a complete equipment company either. Instead, his bet is on a mixture of hardware and software, including his Altra platform Connection of drones. “We solve the difficult problems of the software layer, not electronics,” said another co-founder of Helsing, “said Niklas Köhler.” HX-2 is only the first in a full range of products according to this premise. “
Unveiled at the end of 2024, the Drone model HX-2 Kamikaze Integrates AI, but was also designed to be made on a large scale.
Regarding autonomous drones, AI is more than a gadget; It helps machines to find their targets even when communications are blocked and the data signal is lost. But costs also count, especially for suicide bomber. This is why Helsing also wanted production to be scalable.
The company has not disclosed a price, but claims that its approach leads to a reduction in unit costs and more evolving production than competing options such as the Switchblade aerovironment and its advanced sensors.
Resilience factories
Unlike HF-1 drones, which are manufactured in partnership with the Ukrainian industry, these new aircraft are intended to be made in production facilities that the names of Helsing “Resilience factoriesAnd plans to build across Europe.
The construction of several installations instead of centralizing production has the advantage of being able to get their supplies from local supply chains and labor, which is often a requirement for defense supply services national for reasons of sovereignty.
According to the company, its first resilience factory 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 “pass the manufacturing rates to tens of thousands of units in the event of conflict”.
Helsing’s announcement was made on the eve of Munich Security ConferenceConfirming southern Germany as a defense center. A report published this week by Dealroom and the NATO Innovation Fund revealed that the country guarantee the first place of Europe in terms of defense, resilience and security financing In 2024, with Munich as the main cluster.
Helsing himself played a big role in this financing thrust with a 487 million dollars C Series C It resulted from General Catalyst and others last year. The startup, which attracted some 761.5 million euros To date (or around $ 791 million), has unveiled a Strategic partnership with French AI Champion Mistral This week during Paris Ai Action Summit. “Europe must assert its strength as a geopolitical actor, and the management of AI is the key to this strength and security and the future prosperity of Europe,” said Scherf.
