Ukraine Holds Off on New Helsing Drone Orders After Setbacks
A Helsing HX-2 AI strike drone exhibited at the Defence and Security Equipment International trade show in London on Sept. 11.
Photographer: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Ukraine is holding off on additional orders for strike drones from Helsing, Europe’s most valuable defense tech startup, after the company’s weapon systems faced problems in front line tests in battle, according to a German military presentation and people familiar with the matter.
The German company’s flagship strike drone, the HX-2, had trouble taking off in tests by Ukraine’s 14th Regiment, an unmanned aerial systems unit, according to the Nov. 20 internal presentation that was prepared by a group within the German Defense Ministry. The model, which was supposed to include artificial intelligence components designed to help it steer without a pilot, lacked some of those tools, the presentation said.