A secret factory in Germany is mass-producing drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces — NYT
The German company Helsing SE has launched mass production of the latest AI-powered attack drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The drones are being assembled in series at a secret facility in one of the industrial regions in southern Germany. The facility operates under heavy security, has no signage, and, in the event of a threat, the entire production line can be dismantled and moved to a new location in just one day.
The company began supplying HX-2 loitering munitions to Ukraine in late 2024. According to the developers, approximately 70% of missions carried out in combat conditions are successful.
The main technological advantage of these drones is their integrated artificial intelligence: the drone is capable of autonomously continuing to carry out its combat mission even if GPS navigation and radio communications are completely jammed by enemy electronic warfare systems. Company co-founder Gundbert Schärf notes that it is precisely the experience gained from actual combat operations in Ukraine that allows developers to rapidly improve the software.
About 100 specialists work at the plant, many of whom previously worked in the German automotive industry. All employees undergo rigorous security screening and sign non-disclosure agreements.
The company is banking on a shift in the concept of modern warfare—a transition from extremely expensive tanks and fighter jets to mass-produced and relatively inexpensive autonomous systems. The cost of a single such strike drone is about 17,500 euros, and operating it requires minimal training for the operator.
This was reported by The New York Times.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit on July 8, Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement to implement a joint project to produce BARS unmanned aerial vehicles. The initiative aims to expand defense cooperation between the countries and strengthen the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.
The Ukrainian defense cluster Brave1 and the French Agency for Defense Innovation (AID) signed an agreement to launch the Brave France grant program with a total budget of 20 million euros.
