Image of Helsing’s HX-2 attack drone. (Helsing)
Munich-headquartered defense company Helsing plans to “mass produce” its new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled HX-2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the UK as part of an investment of £350 million ($445 million), a company spokesperson said. confirmed at
Jane
on December 3.
The “software-defined, AI-enabled hardware” HX-2 drone would be produced at newly constructed facilities.
There is also “considerable British technology, intellectual property (intellectual property) and developers involved in the (HX-2) system, which we now hope to make available to the British armed forces,” the spokesperson said. word.
Jane
by email on December 4.
“Tens of thousands of AI-enabled drones can be produced each year. Discussions are underway with our partners. We plan to announce more details early next year,” the spokesperson said.
Jane
during a telephone conversation on December 3.
Mass production of thousands of AI-enabled drones is part of Helsing’s investments in the UK over the next five years, according to a press release from the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) issued on December 2.
The HX-2 strike drone is capable of hitting military targets at a distance of up to 100 km, according to Helsing. Possible payloads include general-purpose, anti-tank, and anti-structure munitions. The onboard AI, according to information provided by the company, “ensures that the HX-2 is immune to electronic warfare (EW).” This would mean that if the guidance data connection with the human operator is interrupted, the UAV would still be able to search, identify and engage targets. According to Helsing, the jamming resistance capabilities were developed and tested in Ukraine. Over the years, Ukrainian drones have faced significant challenges due to Russian electromagnetic jamming techniques, which disrupt communications and render the drones ineffective.
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