Hellsing unveils first AI attack drone, capable of flying up to 100km without a data connection, re-identifying and attacking targets
On December 2, 2024, Helsing, a UK-based defense venture, announced the HX-2, an attack drone developed for mass production and
HX-2 – AI Strike Drone – Helsing
https://helsing.ai/hx-2
Helsing unveils intelligent strike drone for mass and precision – Helsing
https://helsing.ai/newsroom/helsing-unveils-intelligent-strike-drone-for-mass-and-precision
Helsing unveils AI-enabled HX-2 drone
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/helsing-unveils-ai-enabled-hx-2-drone/
Helsing 'HX-2' - YouTube
The HX-2 is an electric X-wing drone weighing 12 kg and capable of a maximum speed of 220 km/h. Its advanced onboard AI makes it highly resistant to electronic warfare (EW) and jamming techniques.
Drones have a major presence in Ukraine, where Russia continues to invade, but they face problems such as electromagnetic interference from the Russian military that disrupts GPS communications and communications between drones and their operators.
Meanwhile, the HX-2 is equipped with software that allows it to search for and re-identify targets without a signal or continuous data connection, enabling it to engage military targets such as armored vehicles at distances of up to 100 km beyond line-of-sight range.
However, the HX-2 is not autonomous and all key decisions require the involvement of a human operator.
Another unique feature of the HX-2 is that it is swarm-capable, meaning multiple HX-2s controlled by a single operator can operate in a swarm-like formation, making it ideal for mass production and significantly lowering the unit cost than traditional drone systems.
'With the HX-2, we are creating a new category of 'smart effector' that combines quantity, autonomy and precision,' said Helsing co-founder Niklas Koehler. 'Each HX-2 can reliably engage armored targets in intense combat environments, and deployed in large numbers along borders, the HX-2 could act as a powerful counter-invasion shield against enemy ground forces.'
The announcement of the HX-2 took place at an event to launch the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Industrial Strategy, where Helsing revealed it would set up a manufacturing base in the UK as part of a five-year plan to invest £350 million in the country.
British Defense Minister John Healey, who attended the event, said, 'The conflict in Ukraine has proven that a country's military is only as strong as the industry and innovation that supports it. It is great to see Helsing taking the lead in setting up a factory in our country to mass-produce low-cost, high-performance AI-enabled systems. Private sector investment such as this will support new jobs, drive economic growth, and enhance the technological advantage and industrial resilience that are at the heart of our defence industrial strategy.'
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