German firm Helsing says production of its HX-2 kamikaze drone, thousands of which are expected to be sent to Ukraine, is underway. The company states that the HX-2s feature stand-off range, artificial intelligence (AI) enabled capabilities that make them resistant to electronic warfare systems, and can be employed in networked swarms.
Helsing offered new details about the HX-2 as part of an official rollout of the one-way-attack drone earlier today. The Bild newspaper in Germany had first reported on the HX-2 and plans to send thousands of them to Ukraine last month.
The electrically-powered HX-2, which has an x-shaped main wing and tail configuration, weighs close to 26 1/2 pounds (12 kilograms), has a top speed of almost 137 miles per hour (220 kilometers per hour), and a maximum range of 62 miles (100 kilometers), according to Helsing. The company also says the drones, also reportedly known by the name “Karma,” can be loaded with multi-purpose warheads, as well as ones optimized for use against armored vehicles or structures.
“Onboard artificial intelligence ensures that HX-2 is immune to hostile electronic warfare (EW) measures through its ability to search for, re-identify, and engage targets, even without a signal or a continuous data connection,” Helsing says on its website. “A human operator stays in or on the loop for all critical decisions.”
What kind of onboard sensors and other systems the HX-2 has to support these capabilities is unclear. As seen below, the drone does have two small apertures in the nose, which are likely electro-optical and/or infrared cameras, as well as what looks to be a small pitot tube off to one side.
“When operating as part of Helsing’s Altra recce/strike software, multiple HX-2s can assemble into swarms, controlled by single human operators,” a Helsing press release adds.
“HX-2 has been designed to be mass-producible and at significantly lower unit cost than conventional systems,” the Helsing release continues, but does not provide any further details about unit cost
When exactly Ukraine might get its first HX-2s is unclear. Bild‘s report said that the first tranche of the drones would be delivered to Ukraine sometime this month and that around 4,000 would be sent in total. The press release today says the drone’s “capabilities [were] developed and tested through Helsing’s extensive experience in Ukraine” and that core technology is currently deployed in Ukraine.”
Regardless, the HX-2 looks set to offer Ukrainian forces a valuable array of capabilities coupled with a significant range allowing for strikes deeper behind the front lines, even for relatively small units. Electronic warfare is in heavy use on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine, especially against drones. AI-enabled targeting has already emerged as one of a number of countermeasure options.
The War Zone has explored in detail in the past how AI is pushing uncrewed aerial systems toward a major new evolution, if not a revolution in capabilities, especially when it comes to dynamic targeting and operating in large groups or fully networked swarms. As we have previously written:
“The ability would open up dynamic targeting deep in contested territory. For Russia, for instance, this would be a huge advantage as it has failed to gain air superiority over Ukraine and has very limited ability to hit non-static targets far beyond the front lines. The same can be said for Ukraine. It could hunt for and strike land Russian vehicles deep in occupied territory, something it cannot do today because it too lacks air superiority and is confronted with the dense air defense overlay that sits atop the entire region. Flying these drones deep into those air defenses makes sense even if they do not complete their mission. A long-range kamikaze drone may cost thousands of dollars, but the high-performance surface-to-air missile that knocks it down will likely cost much more and would take far longer to replace.”
“Waves of similar drones could be sent to their own individual geographical ‘kill boxes,’ or defined areas of engagement. Collectively, they could put enemy targets at risk over a huge area persistently without ‘doubling up’ and attacking the same target twice. Using machine learning/AI and associated hardware they could not just identify targets of interest, but also differentiate moving from still targets, to ensure they are indeed active (not destroyed or already damaged) vehicles. Meanwhile, they can be set to engage other target types, such as surface-to-air missile systems or other high-priority targets, regardless of whether they are static or not. Even troop movements on the ground could potentially be recognized and attacked. All the parameters as to what the drone can engage, and where it can do so, can be defined and tailored to each mission before launch.”
Helsing says the HX-2’s onboard software can be updated wirelessly “to dynamically adapt to new threats and tactics.” It’s unclear if the drones are designed to receive those updates in flight in the middle of a mission. The War Zone has also previously highlighted how AI algorithms can be rapidly trained in a digital environment, as well as incorporate data collected from actual real-world employment, to improve their ability to spot, categorize, and engage targets.
Increasing autonomy for kamikaze drones and other weapon systems has also prompted a broader ethical debate, which Helsing has proactively sought to address in relation to the HX-2.
“As a company founded in democratic countries and on democratic values, we have a special duty to approach the development and deployment of advanced defense systems, such as strike drones, with particular responsibility and thoughtfulness,” a section on Helsing’s site states. “We believe in the principle that a human needs to be in or on the loop for all critical decisions; and we know that enforcing this principle requires conviction and technological leadership, especially in the face of adversaries taking shortcuts.”
If nothing else, a new stream of relatively low-cost kamikaze drones by itself is a boon for Ukraine, especially amid growing uncertainty about the future of foreign military aid contributions. The German government, which has been especially reluctant to send stand-off strike munitions to Ukraine also looks to be presenting HX-2 as an alternative that still demonstrates its commitment to supporting Kyiv. Some reports say that the drone has been nicknamed the Mini-Taurus, an apparent reference of sorts to Germany’s repeated rebuffing of requests for air-launched Taurus cruise missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Kyiv just today where he was shown numerous kamikaze drones that Ukraine has developed domestically.
In addition, as already noted, the HX-2’s capabilities reflect broader trends that are not limited to the fighting in Ukraine. The threats that kamikaze drones and other weaponized types pose, which are not new, as well as the potential benefits they could offer in friendly hands, have now been fully driven into the public consciousness. Uncrewed aerial systems capable of executing one-way attacks or of dropping munitions, in particular, have become an increasing fixture in conflicts globally, including in the recent surge in fighting in Syria. There is no sign that their proliferation, or that of new functionality, including AI-driven features, among state armed forces, as well as terrorists and other non-state actors, will slow any time soon. The overall bar to entry to fielding weaponized drones is already low.
Helsing is one of a steadily growing number of companies worldwide, including many smaller ones, that are now looking to enter this market space or expand their existing presence there, including by leveraging experience from supporting Ukrainian forces.
It remains to be seen when definitive evidence of the HX-2’s use in Ukraine will emerge, but the drone is a sign of things to come beyond that conflict.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com