Helsing
About
About Helsing
Helsing’s Altra platform fuses sensor information into a shared operating picture and coordinates autonomous systems through open interfaces. Edge AI allows aircraft, vehicles and sensors to classify activity and continue operating when communications to a central command point are limited.
The product portfolio includes HX-2 loitering aircraft, Centaur combat-aircraft AI and the Lura and Cirra underwater-surveillance systems. Helsing develops the software, onboard autonomy and selected physical platforms together, connecting battlefield sensing, decision support and supervised autonomous action across air, land and sea.
Articles
Products
Operations
Facilities & manufacturing
- Facility
2025-11-19 - Helsing opened its first UK Resilience Factory in Plymouth to build SG-1 Fathom autonomous underwater gliders and Lura acoustic AI systems. - SG-1 Fathom AUV and Lura acoustic AI production - Plymouth, United Kingdom
Source
Orders & commitments
- Order / commitment
2026-02-12 - Germany awarded Helsing an initial EUR 269 million HX-2 strike drone contract. - HX-2 - HX-2 strike drone contract
Source - Order / commitment
2025-02-13 - Helsing announced production of 6,000 additional HX-2 strike drones for delivery to Ukraine. - HX-2 drones for Ukraine - Ukraine defense operations
Source
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Schaeffler AG
Inbound - Manufacturing - Schaeffler plans to manufacture and procure drone electronics for Helsing under a December 2025 MoU
Source
Funding
- 2026-07-13 - Series E - $1.8B - Helsing raises $1.8B Series E at an $18B valuation
valuation: $18B - Helsing raised $1.8 billion in a Series E financing that valued the European defence AI and autonomous-systems company at $18 billion. - source: helsing.ai
- 2025-06-17 - Series D - $698.8M - Helsing raises €600M Series D at €12B valuation
valuation: EUR 12B (~$13.88B) - Helsing raised EUR 600M Series D led by Prima Materia for all-domain defence innovation and European technological sovereignty. - source: helsing.ai
- 2024-07-11 - Series C - $524.1M - Helsing raises €450M Series C at €4.95B valuation
valuation: EUR 4.95B (~$5.37B) - Helsing raised a EUR450 million Series C led by General Catalyst for product development, R&D and European defence capabilities. - source: helsing.ai
- 2023-09-14 - Series B - $224.3M - Helsing raises €209M Series B at >€1.7B post-money valuation
valuation: EUR 1.7B (~$1.82B) - Helsing raised a EUR209 million Series B led by General Catalyst, with Saab joining as a strategic investor. - source: helsing.ai
- 2021-11-09 - Series A - $118.7M - Prima Materia leads Helsing EUR102.5M Series A
Helsing raised a EUR102.5 million Series A led by Prima Materia to scale its defence AI software platform and team. - source: sifted.eu
Investors
- General Catalyst - Lead - VC - 4 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2023-09-14 - latest 2026-07-13
- Prima Materia - Lead - Angel / Individual - 3 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2021-11-09 - latest 2025-06-17
- Saab - Participant - Unknown - 3 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2023-09-14 - latest 2025-06-17
- Accel - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2024-07-11 - latest 2025-06-17
- Plural - Participant - Unknown - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2024-07-11 - latest 2025-06-17
- BDT & MSD Partners - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-06-17
- CPP Investments - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Disruptive - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Dragoneer - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Elad Gil - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-07-11
- Goldman Sachs - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Greenoaks - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-07-11
- ICONIQ - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- JPMorgan - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Lightspeed - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-07-11
- Lightspeed Venture Partners - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-07-13
- Lightspeed Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-06-17
Team
- Gundbert Scherf - Co-founder - Co-founder tied to Helsing's defence AI, government and autonomous-systems strategy.
- Torsten Reil - Co-founder - Co-founder connected to Helsing's software-native defence technology and autonomous systems direction.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-07-13 - Funding - Helsing raises $1.8B Series E at an $18B valuation
The financing is a Series E and carries an $18 billion valuation. Named investors included Dragoneer, Lightspeed, General Catalyst, ICONIQ, Disruptive, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and CPP Investments. The capital extends Helsing's expansion from defence AI software into strike drones, underwater surveillance and autonomous military aircraft.
Source - 2026-06-22 - Deployment - HAT.tec SCALE enters the Bavarian Police’s completed H145 fleet
The fleet’s eight helicopters were delivered in stages from 2023, with final handover scheduled for 22 June 2026 in Donauwörth. An Airbus integration displays SCALE on a 17-inch cockpit monitor, combining sensor and platform information in one operating picture. The work involved Airbus Helicopters, HAT.tec, Helsing and the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron.
Source - 2026-06-01 - Product Launch - Helsing unveils Area 9 and launches RX-1 European robotics research platform
Helsing unveiled Area 9, an advanced research division led by Chief Scientist Antoine Bordes, and launched RX-1 as its first European robotics research platform. RX-1 is designed and manufactured in Europe and will be made available to academic institutions and robotics laboratories across the continent. Helsing announced initial academic partnerships with ETH Zurich's robotics group led by Marco Hutter and INRIA Paris to use RX-1 for research at the intersection of AI and autonomous systems.
Source - 2026-05-19 - Partnership - Helsing and OHB establish KIRK joint venture for tactical space-based reconnaissance
Helsing and OHB established KIRK, a joint venture for tactical space-based surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems. The venture expands the earlier Helsing, Kongsberg and HENSOLDT space-based targeting partnership by adding OHB as a joint lead. Helsing contributes AI for real-time data processing, multi-sensor fusion and automated target recognition.
Source - 2026-04-20 - Market Signal - Helsing opens Stockholm hub and cites Cirra Eurofighter contract
Helsing opened a Stockholm presence to serve as the operational centre for its Nordic activities. The company highlighted its Centaur AI agent flying aboard a Gripen E fighter and a three-digit million Euro contract to equip Eurofighter with Cirra. The hub supports AI software development, defence partnerships and sovereign capability-building for Sweden and the wider Baltic Sea region.
Source - 2026-02-12 - Contract Award - Germany awards Helsing initial EUR 269M HX-2 strike drone contract
Germany awarded Helsing an initial EUR 269 million contract for HX-2 strike drones. Reporting says the Bundestag budget committee capped the broader arrangement, with further purchases requiring additional approval.
Source - 2025-12-09 - Partnership - Kongsberg and Helsing team on European space-based IST constellation
Kongsberg and Helsing signed a teaming agreement to accelerate a sovereign European space-based intelligence, surveillance and targeting constellation. Helsing will contribute AI-driven software for fusing SAR, EO and RF data for satellite image analysis. This is relevant to defence autonomy infrastructure but should not be framed as a drone event.
Source - 2025-12-02 - Partnership - Schaeffler and Helsing sign MoU on drone development and production scale-up
Schaeffler and Helsing signed an MoU to collaborate on drone systems. The agreement covers component supply, resilient supply-chain work and drone production scale-up. The partnership adds manufacturing and supply-chain capacity to Helsing drone development.
Source - 2025-11-19 - Production Milestone - Helsing opens Plymouth Resilience Factory for AI-enabled submarine hunters
Helsing opened its first UK Resilience Factory in Plymouth to build AI-enabled submarine-hunting systems. The facility supports production of SG-1 Fathom autonomous underwater gliders and Lura acoustic AI software. The factory follows Helsing's UK investment plan for maritime autonomy and critical undersea infrastructure protection.
Source - 2025-10-07 - Acquisition - Helsing acquires Blue Ocean to accelerate autonomous underwater vehicle programme
Helsing acquired Blue Ocean, a specialist in autonomous underwater vehicles. The acquisition followed Helsing's launch of SG-1 Fathom and its testing at the BUTEC underwater military test range. The deal accelerates Helsing's maritime defence programme around AI-powered autonomous underwater systems.
Source - 2025-06-17 - Funding - Helsing raises €600M Series D at €12B valuation
Reuters reported the €600 million Series D valued Helsing at €12 billion. Prima Materia led the round; Lightspeed Ventures, Accel, Plural, General Catalyst, Saab and BDT & MSD Partners participated. Helsing said the funding would accelerate all-domain defence innovation and European technological sovereignty.
Source - 2025-06-04 - Acquisition - Helsing agrees to acquire Grob Aircraft for aerospace and defence manufacturing
Helsing signed a binding agreement to acquire Grob Aircraft SE. The deal combines Grob's composite aircraft manufacturing expertise with Helsing's AI and software systems. Helsing positioned the acquisition as a way to accelerate next-generation aerial warfare capabilities.
Source - 2025-05-13 - Product Launch - Helsing unveils Lura and SG-1 Fathom for autonomous underwater surveillance
Helsing unveiled Lura and SG-1 Fathom for autonomous mass surveillance and defence of underwater environments. SG-1 Fathom is an autonomous underwater glider designed for scalable persistent surveillance. Lura provides acoustic AI software for detecting and classifying underwater threats.
Source - 2025-04-28 - Partnership - Helsing, Blue Ocean, Ocean Infinity and QinetiQ partner on maritime autonomy
Helsing partnered with Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, Ocean Infinity and QinetiQ to accelerate AI and autonomy in maritime operations. The alliance targets allied naval needs around digitalising the oceans and protecting vessels and critical undersea infrastructure. Helsing framed the work as autonomous mass that is sovereign, scalable and affordable.
Source - 2025-02-13 - Production Milestone - Helsing announces production of 6,000 additional HX-2 strike drones for Ukraine
Helsing announced production of 6,000 additional HX-2 strike drones for delivery to Ukraine. The company said this followed a previous order of 4,000 HF-1 strike drones being delivered in partnership with Ukrainian industry. Helsing also announced that its first Resilience Factory in Southern Germany was operational with initial monthly production capacity of more than 1,000 HX-2 units.
Source - 2025-02-10 - Partnership - Helsing and Mistral AI partner on defence Vision-Language-Action models
Helsing and Mistral AI announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop next-generation defence AI systems. The companies said the work would focus on Vision-Language-Action models for battlefield understanding, communication and decision support. Treat this as AI infrastructure/capability partnership, not a robot product event.
Source - 2024-12-02 - Product Launch - Helsing unveils HX-2 AI strike drone
Helsing unveiled HX-2 as a software-defined, mass-producible AI strike drone. The drone is an electrically propelled X-wing precision munition with up to 100 km range and onboard AI for electronic-warfare and jamming resistance. Helsing said HX-2 can operate as part of Altra recce-strike software, with multiple drones assembling into swarms under a single human operator.
Source - 2024-07-11 - Funding - Helsing raises €450M Series C at €4.95B valuation
Axios reported the €450 million Series C valued Helsing at €4.95 billion. General Catalyst led the round, with Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural and Greenoaks participating. Helsing said the capital would support product development and R&D focused on European sovereignty and NATO eastern-flank protection.
Source - 2024-06-05 - Partnership - Airbus and Helsing sign AI cooperation agreement for future Wingman system
Airbus Defence and Space and Helsing signed a framework cooperation agreement for AI technologies in a future Wingman system. Airbus contributes manned-unmanned teaming and combat-aircraft programme experience, while Helsing contributes its AI stack for sensor fusion, algorithms and electronic warfare. The partnership gives Helsing a technology-integration milestone for unmanned military aircraft teaming.
Source - 2024-06-03 - Capability - Helsing announces Project Centaur autonomy initiative for air combat
Helsing announced Project Centaur, a large-scale AI initiative for autonomous air combat capabilities. The programme targets existing platforms and future systems including Loyal Wingman, FCAS, GCAP and other European air-combat programmes.
Source - 2023-09-14 - Funding - Helsing raises €209M Series B at >€1.7B post-money valuation
Helsing raised €209 million in Series B funding at a reported post-money valuation above €1.7 billion. General Catalyst led the round, while Saab joined as a strategic investor and Prima Materia also participated. Helsing said the capital would grow its French, German and UK businesses and deepen investment in its defence-AI technology.
Source - 2021-11-09 - Funding - Prima Materia leads Helsing EUR102.5M Series A
Prima Materia led the EUR102.5 million Series A, with Daniel Ek joining Helsing's board alongside the company's founders. Prima Materia supplied EUR100 million of the round, subject to regulatory approval. The capital was earmarked for growing Helsing's deep-learning, software engineering and domain-expert team and accelerating product delivery.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- ARX Robotics
Technology Partner - ARX Robotics has a public integration relationship with Helsing.
- Germany
Strike Drone Supplier - Germany awarded Helsing an initial EUR 269 million HX-2 strike drone contract.
- Mistral AI
AI Development Partner - Helsing and Mistral AI are jointly developing defence Vision-Language-Action models.
- Airbus
Wingman AI Partner - Helsing and Airbus Defence and Space signed a cooperation framework for AI on the future uncrewed Wingman system.
Context
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stack adjacency - Defence AI Autonomy Software
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stack adjacency - Defence AI Autonomy Software
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stack adjacency - Defence AI Autonomy Software
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stack adjacency - Defence AI Autonomy Software
Shared workflows
- Matrix Pro Sims
workflow adjacency - Defence AI Decision Support
Context tags
- Defence customers - Customer Environment
- Defence AI autonomy-software stack - Stack Layer
- Defence AI decision support - Workflow
- Defence AI software layer - Stack Layer
Commercial
- Germany awards Helsing initial EUR 269M HX-2 strike drone contract
2026-02-12 · Order / contract
Source
