Forging Europe’s AI Defense Future

In an era defined by accelerating technological advancement and evolving geopolitical landscapes, the defense sector faces unprecedented challenges. Emerging from this dynamic environment is Helsing, a European defense technology company that has rapidly established itself as a frontrunner in applying artificial intelligence to military capabilities. Born from a profound belief in the power of software to safeguard democratic values, Helsing’s story is one of rapid innovation, strategic partnerships, and a resolute commitment to ethical AI development in the most critical of domains.

A Response to a Changing World

Helsing was founded in 2021 by a visionary trio: Torsten Reil, a seasoned gaming developer; Gundbert Scherf, with a background in the German Ministry of Defense; and Niklas Köhler, a machine learning expert who folded his deep learning company, Hellsicht, into the new venture. Their inspiration was rooted in a critical observation – the increasing centrality of software and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, a realization sharpened by events like Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. As stated on Wikipedia, this led to a core pledge: to sell their advanced AI solutions exclusively to democratic governments, underpinning their mission to “protect our democratic values and open societies.”

This commitment to ethical principles from the outset has been a defining characteristic of Helsing. They embarked on their journey with the conviction that technological leadership in AI was paramount for open societies to maintain sovereign decision-making and uphold ethical standards in defense. Their initial funding, a substantial €100 million in November 2021, came from Spotify founder Daniel Ek through his investment vehicle Prima Materia, signaling early confidence in Helsing’s vision and approach, as reported by Munich-Startup.de.

AI at the Core: Transforming Battlefield Intelligence and Action

At the heart of Helsing’s innovation lies its focus on AI-powered software designed to analyze vast amounts of sensor and weapons system data. This capability provides real-time battlefield insights, enhancing decision-making for military personnel. Their software operates across various domains – land, air, sea, and space – creating a cohesive picture of the operational environment.

Key to their offerings is the Altra Recce-Strike Software Platform. As described on Helsing’s website, Altra intelligently connects disparate battlefield elements to accelerate target identification, localization, assignment, and engagement. It achieves this by combining “on-edge AI” (meaning AI processing happens directly on the device, crucial for contested environments) with a robust, degradation-resilient networking stack and powerful ground station software. Altra integrates live data streams from various sources, including ISR drones and human spotters, to create a common operational target picture. This platform also features AI-aided effector assignments, coordinated strike drone swarms, and automated fire adjustment for indirect fires, significantly reducing operator workload and speeding up the decision chain.

Helsing’s AI extends beyond land combat. They are developing “vision-language-action” AI models in collaboration with Mistral AI, a partnership announced in February 2025 at the Paris Global AI Summit. This initiative aims to enable defense platforms to comprehend their surroundings, interact naturally with drone operators, and make quicker decisions in complex situations, as reported by Helsing’s newsroom. This is a significant step towards more sophisticated human-AI collaboration in high-stakes environments.

Expanding Horizons: A Growing Product Ecosystem

While software remains their core, Helsing has strategically expanded its product portfolio to include proprietary hardware and integrated solutions:

• HX-2 Strike Drone: In December 2024, Helsing announced the HX-2, an autonomous swarm-capable strike drone. This software-defined drone is natively integrated with the Altra platform, designed for coordinated strike drone swarms and operations in heavily contested electronic warfare (EW) environments. Its battle-proven software stack has been extensively tested, including in Ukraine, showcasing its real-world efficacy.
• SG-1 Fathom and LURA: In May 2025, Helsing unveiled the SG-1 Fathom, an autonomous swarm-capable underwater drone designed for long-term maritime surveillance and the protection of subsea infrastructure. Each Fathom drone can operate submerged for up to 90 days without resurfacing. Complementing this is LURA, an AI-powered acoustic signature analysis system that functions similarly to a Large Language Model. Instead of words, LURA processes acoustic signatures to identify threats like submarines, underwater drones, or sabotage teams in near real-time, eliminating the need to transmit massive amounts of raw data. This innovation was highlighted by Tech-Now.io in May 2025 as a paradigm shift in maritime security.
• HF-1 (formerly referred to as Wingman’s AI system): Helsing is partnering with Airbus to develop the AI system for the Wingman, an unmanned combat air vehicle concept. This collaboration aims to integrate advanced AI to assist human pilots in combat scenarios, demonstrating Helsing’s reach into sophisticated aerial platforms.
• Eurofighter Typhoon EK and Saab JAS 39 Gripen Integration: Helsing’s AI has been integrated into the onboard system of the Eurofighter Typhoon EK, enhancing its electronic warfare capabilities. Similarly, the radar system of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen has been upgraded with Helsing’s software. Most recently, on June 11, 2025, Saab announced the successful completion of the first three flights integrating Helsing’s AI agent ‘Centaur’ into a Gripen E fighter jet. This marks a significant advance in bringing AI capabilities to military aircraft, with Centaur executing complex maneuvers and providing fire commands to the pilot in Beyond Visual Range combat, as detailed in Saab’s press release and Helsing’s newsroom.

Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships: Building an Ecosystem

Helsing’s rapid growth has been propelled by a proactive strategy of partnerships and acquisitions, cementing its position within the broader defense ecosystem.

• Acquisition of Grob Aircraft: On June 4, 2025, Helsing announced a binding agreement to acquire German light aircraft manufacturer Grob Aircraft SE. This acquisition aims to integrate Helsing’s AI and software with Grob’s expertise in composite aircraft manufacturing, accelerating the development of AI-powered reconnaissance and combat aircraft. This move deepens their capabilities in the air domain and allows for direct hardware-software integration, as stated in Helsing’s newsroom.
• Partnership with Rheinmetall and Saab: Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Helsing established critical partnerships with major defense primes. In September 2022, they partnered with Rheinmetall, and in September 2023, with Saab, to integrate Helsing’s AI into their existing weapons systems. These collaborations have been instrumental in developing and deploying AI systems for Ukraine, showcasing their commitment to real-world impact.
• Future Combat Air System (FCAS): In 2024, Helsing secured a contract to build AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System, a major European defense initiative, further solidifying its role in next-generation military programs.
• Bundeswehr Collaboration: Helsing has partnered with the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) to upgrade existing military platforms, including armored vehicles, by integrating its AI technologies.
• Underwater Threat Partnership: In April 2025, Helsing announced a partnership with Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, Ocean Infinity, and QinetiQ to accelerate the deployment of AI and autonomous technologies in maritime operations, specifically targeting underwater threats and enhancing multi-domain maritime situational awareness, as reported by Naval News.

Funding and Ethical Scrutiny: Navigating the Complexities

Helsing has attracted substantial investment, reflecting its high potential in the defense tech space. Dealroom.co indicates that Helsing has raised over $820 million (approximately €760 million) in funding across several rounds. A significant Series C round in July 2024 brought in €450 million (around $487 million) and valued the company at roughly €5 billion, with General Catalyst, Accel, and Saab among the key investors, as detailed by Sifted and Tracxn. Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s Prima Materia remains a significant early investor.

However, rapid growth in the sensitive defense sector is not without its challenges. In April 2025, Bloomberg News reported that Helsing was under scrutiny following allegations of overpriced drones and “glitchy software,” with former employees, investors, and military experts raising concerns about the reliability of its technology and the integrity of its business practices. Helsing, while not commenting directly on the specific allegations, consistently emphasizes its commitment to ethical AI development, internal ethics workshops, and a strict policy of only selling to democratic governments. This ongoing dialogue underscores the critical importance of transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of powerful AI technologies in defense.

The Vision: Ethical AI for a Resilient Defense

Helsing’s vision is clear: to ensure that democratic nations possess the technological edge necessary to protect their sovereignty in a rapidly changing world. By focusing on software-defined defense, AI-powered decision-making, and autonomous systems, they are enabling militaries to operate with greater speed, precision, and reduced risk to human life. The company actively engages in debates about the ethical implications of AI in defense, emphasizing the need for responsible autonomy and human-in-the-loop control to prevent unintended engagements.

Their journey is a powerful illustration of how startups, leveraging cutting-edge technology and a bold vision, can profoundly impact the defense landscape. Helsing is not merely a technology provider; it aims to be a strategic partner for democratic governments, helping them navigate the complexities of modern warfare and build a more resilient and secure future through the responsible application of artificial intelligence.