In a significant development for Ukraine's defense capabilities, European defense technology leader Helsing announced in February 2025 the production of 6,000 AI-enabled HX-2 strike drones for delivery to Ukraine. This follows an earlier order of 4,000 HF-1 strike drones currently being delivered in partnership with Ukrainian industry.
The HX-2, unveiled in late 2024, represents a new generation of combat drones designed specifically to counter electronic warfare measures. These electrically propelled X-wing precision munitions have a range of up to 100 kilometers and feature advanced onboard artificial intelligence that ensures full resistance to electronic jamming – a critical advantage in the increasingly electronic warfare-dominated Ukrainian battlefield.
A key innovation of the HX-2 system is its integration with Helsing's Altra reconnaissance-strike software platform, enabling multiple drones to operate as coordinated swarms controlled by a single human operator. This capability significantly enhances Ukraine's ability to offset Russia's numerical advantages in conventional military systems, as drone warfare has become central to the conflict with both sides deploying millions of unmanned aerial vehicles annually.
To support this large-scale production, Helsing has completed its first Resilience Factory in southern Germany, with an initial monthly production capacity exceeding 1,000 HX-2 drones. The company plans to establish additional facilities across Europe, creating a distributed manufacturing network capable of scaling to tens of thousands of units if needed.
"We are scaling up production of HX-2 in response to additional orders from Ukraine, where precision mass is offsetting a numerical disadvantage in legacy systems on a daily basis," said Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing. The company's approach combines software-first design with scalable manufacturing techniques, resulting in significantly lower unit costs compared to conventional systems.
The deployment of these AI-powered drones comes as Ukraine continues to leverage advanced technology to counter Russian forces. By early 2025, drones were accounting for 60-70% of damage to Russian equipment, according to the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, highlighting how AI and drone technology are transforming modern warfare.