Helsing, a German defense technology startup, supported by Daniel EK Spotify et al., Produces 6000 HX-2 strike drones in addition to 4000 HF-1 strike drones financed by Germany which are currently delivered to Ukraine.
“In response to the production of HX-2 in response to additional orders from Ukraine,” said the co-founder of Helsing Gundbert Schef in a statement.
The commercial appears shortly after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to begin negotiations to finish the war in Ukraine, asking questions about how longer the conflict could last.
Strike Drona, as its name suggests, is weapon drones used in military operations, and cosmic helsing rotation In 2024, the company began playing the AI software, but now it considers its place as “one of the largest producers of strike drones around the world”, in accordance with the latest announcement.
Drones, especially kamikaze drones (FPV), served by human pilots, played a key role in helping Ukraine to compensate for numerical defects and equipment against Russia.
Even low cost FPV drones are able to precise strikesAnd many are Made in Ukraine by state, industrial and grassroots producersBut Helsing models add the possibility of mounting in swarm.
However, Helsing is also not becoming a full -fledged hardware company. Instead, it is assumed to mix hardware and software, including Altra platform Connecting drones. “We solve difficult problems in the software layer, not in electronics,” said one other Helsing co -founders, “Niklas Köhler. “HX-2 is only the first of the whole range of products based on this premise.”
Presented at the end of 2024, HX-2 kamikaze drone model It integrates artificial intelligence, but was also designed to be produced on a large scale.
As for autonomous drones, and it’s greater than a trick; It helps machines find its goals, even when communication is drowned out and data signal loss. But the costs also matter, especially for Kamikaze devices. That is why Helsing wanted the production to be scalable.
The company has not disclosed prices, but claims that its approach results in lower unit costs and more scalable production than competitive options comparable to Aerovironance Switchblade and his advanced sensors.
Immunity factory
Unlike HF-1 drones, which are created in cooperation with the Ukrainian industry, these newer devices are to be produced in production facilities that they call “”Immunity factory“And plans to build throughout Europe.
Building several facilities as a substitute of centralizing production has the advantage that it is in a position to obtain local supply chains and workforce, which is often the requirement of National Defense Order Departments for sovereignty.
According to the company, the first resistance factory in southern Germany is currently operating with the initial monthly production capability of over 1000 HX-2. Like other similar objects, it could actually also “scale production rates to tens of thousands of units in the event of conflict.”
Helsing’s announcement was issued on the eve Safety conference in Munichconfirming southern Germany as a defense center. The report published this week by the Dealroom and NATO Innovation Fund revealed that this country has provided the highest place in Europe in the field of defense, resistance and security financing in 2024, and Munich is its principal cluster.
Helsing himself played a large role in this increase in financing with a C series with a value of $ 487 million, which he collected with General Catalyst and others last yr. A startup that in a sense attracted EUR 761.5 million Until now (or about $ 791 million), he presented Strategic partnership With the French champion AI Mistral this week during Paris Ai Action Summit. “Europe must confirm its strength as a geopolitical actor, and the leadership AI is the key to this strength and future security and prosperity of Europe,” said Schef.