Inside Germany's drone tech: Helsing AI aids Ukrainian strike
Journalists from the German publication Bild accompanied Ukrainian soldiers during an attack using HF-1 Helsing strike drones. Here is a closer look at what these drones are and how they are produced.
Founded in Berlin in 2021, Helsing AI is engaged in the mass production of strike drones. Recent contracts include up to 10,000 HF-1 drones and an undisclosed number of HX-2 drones, with over 1,000 HF-1s already delivered to Ukraine. Current production capabilities are reportedly at 1,000 drones per month.
The concept is straightforward: it involves using commercially available electronic components and open-source software, which allows for easy replacement of parts when necessary. Additionally, artificial intelligence algorithms are utilized in the target-tracking process.
As a Ukrainian soldier admitted in an interview with Bild journalists, the HF-1 drones are resistant to electronic warfare systems. Even if a signal is lost, the drone will hit the target previously marked by the pilot.
It's noteworthy that this is not an issue for the company, which also deals with electronic warfare systems for Eurofighter aircraft and experiments with so-called AI pilots that could, in the future, replace or complement human pilots.
HF-1 drones - a deadly plywood craft capable of striking deep into enemy lines
HF-1 drones and their catapult launchers are made from readily available plywood, positively affecting production costs. While the mass of the HF-1 drone is unknown, it closely resembles the HX-2, suggesting its mass may also be around 26 pounds.
The drone is equipped to carry warheads capable of attacking both armored and unarmored targets. This likely suggests the use of a popular multifunctional warhead system, combining cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation warheads.
In an interview with Bild journalists, a Ukrainian soldier reported that the HF-1 drone can stay airborne for about an hour, and its optimal range for striking targets is approximately 25-30 miles. This is twice the distance compared to the increasingly used strike drones controlled via fiber optics.
This capability allows Ukrainians to surprise Russian forces deep in the rear, where they do not expect an attack, further paralyzing logistics. This is crucial because, without supplies of ammunition, fuel, food, water, and medical supplies, frontline units cannot sustain combat for more than a few days.
Artificial intelligence in warfare — the future is here
The greatest strength of the HF-1 drones is their software and the use of artificial intelligence algorithms that transform these plywood constructions into powerful weapons. AI provides immunity to electronic warfare systems and enables attacks on targets even if the pilot loses connection with the drone.
Simply put, after the pilot selects the target from a distance outside the range of jammers, the drone will autonomously guide itself to the target using artificial intelligence algorithms that allow for the recognition and identification of objects seen by the camera.
The Ukrainians are already testing solutions on FPV drones based on Skynode-S modules or modified Google Coral development boards, but these makeshift solutions are incomparable to factory equipment.
