German defence company Helsing has started production of AI-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), called HX-2 Karma kamikaze drones, for supplying to Ukraine.
"HX-2 is already in production and the core technology is currently deployed in Ukraine," a release from the company read.
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According to the company, the advanced on-board AI enables full electronic warfare and jamming resistance and the drones can also assemble into swarms, controlled by single human operators.
With a flying range of 100 km and speed of upto 220 km/h, HX-2 drones can carry a payload of 5kg. Combining speed, range, and sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, HX-2 Karma kamikaze drones are capable of hitting targets at a considerable distance.
According to media reports, the drone's AI features help it navigate tough terrains even in difficult climatic conditions. Once it identifies a target, it can strike it even if the communication is lost, using a homing system used at the final part of the flight, although the human operator remains fully in control of the "critical decisions."
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"With HX-2, we are creating a new smart effector category that combines mass, autonomy and precision. Individual HX-2s can reliably engage armored targets in highly contested environments. When deployed along borders at scale, HX-2 can serve as a powerful counter-invasion shield against enemy land forces," Niklas Kohler, co-founder of Helsing, has been quoted as saying.
The company plans to produce 1,000 drones per month from January 2025 and increase production volumes to 10,000 units per month in the medium term. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that his country will soon supply Ukraine with 4,000 high-tech attack drones.
Specifically designed for anti-tank and anti-structure operations, the supply of these "loitering munitions" is set to significantly boost Ukraine's areal defence capabilities even as Russian authorities have been repeatedly stating that pumping Ukraine with weapons will not reduce Russia's determination or change the course of the military operation.
