The six cities shaping European defence tech careers
Apr 9
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Munich, GermanyBerlin, Germany
London, United Kingdom
Paris, FranceReston, United StatesMunich, GermanyBerlin, GermanyLondon, United KingdomParis, FranceReston, United States
Products & Solutions
CA-1 Europa
Autonomous combat aircraft with over 1,400 km range. Designed to operate independently or in swarms with the Centaur AI agent onboard. First flight targeted for 2027, with entry into service aimed for 2029. HENSOLDT joined as a partner on the programme in February 2026.
HX-2
AI-guided strike drone weighing 12 kg with over 100 km range. Operates in coordinated swarms without GPS using AI and stored map data. Mass-produced at Helsing's Resilience Factory in southern Germany, with monthly capacity exceeding 1,000 units.
Altra
Reconnaissance-strike software that fuses sensor data from drones, spotters and other sources into a single operational picture. Provides real-time targeting information for indirect fire, weapon stations and strike drones. Integrated with the HX-2 system and with Systematic SitaWare.
SG-1 Fathom + Lura
Underwater autonomous surveillance system. The SG-1 Fathom is a subsurface glider that can be mass-manufactured and deployed in swarms of hundreds to monitor vast underwater areas. Lura is the AI software platform built on a large acoustic model trained on decades of acoustic data, providing real-time detection and classification at the edge.
Cirra
AI system for electronic warfare that uses deep learning to classify and read the intent of unknown anti-aircraft radar emitters. Rather than pattern matching against known signatures, Cirra learns emitter behaviour. Runs onboard combat aircraft for real-time threat assessment and also includes a ground station for offline analysis across all EW assets.
Centaur
Autonomous AI pilot for fighter aircraft that uses scaled reinforcement learning to achieve human-level performance in air combat. Integrates into existing and future crewed and uncrewed platforms. Successfully completed test flights on the Saab Gripen E.
Videos
CA-1 Europa: Autonomous Air Dominance
Helsing HX-2 Field Testing
Helsing Cirra: AI For Electronic Warfare
About
Helsing builds AI-powered defence systems from its headquarters in Munich. Founded in March 2021 by Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf and Niklas Köhler, the company has grown to over 900 employees and raised EUR 1.37 billion across four funding rounds.
Offices
Munich, GermanyBerlin, GermanyLondon, United KingdomParis, FranceReston, United StatesBacked by
Prima Materia (Daniel Ek)General CatalystAccelSaabLightspeed VenturesPluralGreenoaksBDT & MSD Partners
Customers & Partners
BundeswehrFrench Ministry of DefenceUK Ministry of DefenceUkraineSaabHENSOLDTKongsbergSystematicMistral AILoft OrbitalARX Robotics
Timeline
2025-10
Acquired Blue Ocean, a specialist in autonomous underwater vehicles.
2025-09
Unveiled CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft.
2025-06
Raised EUR 600 million Series D led by Prima Materia, valued at EUR 12 billion. Total capital raised: EUR 1.37 billion.
2024-12
Launched HX-2 strike drone and opened first Resilience Factory (RF-1) in southern Germany.
2024-07
Raised EUR 450 million Series C led by General Catalyst, valued at EUR 5 billion.
2021-03
Founded in Munich by Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf and Niklas Köhler.
Open Positions (5)
This company may have more openings listed on their website
Products & Solutions
CA-1 Europa
Autonomous combat aircraft with over 1,400 km range. Designed to operate independently or in swarms with the Centaur AI agent onboard. First flight targeted for 2027, with entry into service aimed for 2029. HENSOLDT joined as a partner on the programme in February 2026.
HX-2
AI-guided strike drone weighing 12 kg with over 100 km range. Operates in coordinated swarms without GPS using AI and stored map data. Mass-produced at Helsing's Resilience Factory in southern Germany, with monthly capacity exceeding 1,000 units.
Altra
Reconnaissance-strike software that fuses sensor data from drones, spotters and other sources into a single operational picture. Provides real-time targeting information for indirect fire, weapon stations and strike drones. Integrated with the HX-2 system and with Systematic SitaWare.
SG-1 Fathom + Lura
Underwater autonomous surveillance system. The SG-1 Fathom is a subsurface glider that can be mass-manufactured and deployed in swarms of hundreds to monitor vast underwater areas. Lura is the AI software platform built on a large acoustic model trained on decades of acoustic data, providing real-time detection and classification at the edge.
Cirra
AI system for electronic warfare that uses deep learning to classify and read the intent of unknown anti-aircraft radar emitters. Rather than pattern matching against known signatures, Cirra learns emitter behaviour. Runs onboard combat aircraft for real-time threat assessment and also includes a ground station for offline analysis across all EW assets.
Centaur
Autonomous AI pilot for fighter aircraft that uses scaled reinforcement learning to achieve human-level performance in air combat. Integrates into existing and future crewed and uncrewed platforms. Successfully completed test flights on the Saab Gripen E.
Videos
CA-1 Europa: Autonomous Air Dominance
Helsing HX-2 Field Testing
Helsing Cirra: AI For Electronic Warfare
Open Positions (5)
This company may have more openings listed on their website
About
Helsing builds AI-powered defence systems from its headquarters in Munich. Founded in March 2021 by Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf and Niklas Köhler, the company has grown to over 900 employees and raised EUR 1.37 billion across four funding rounds.
Offices
Munich, GermanyBerlin, GermanyLondon, United KingdomParis, FranceReston, United StatesBacked by
Prima Materia (Daniel Ek)General CatalystAccelSaabLightspeed VenturesPluralGreenoaksBDT & MSD Partners
Customers & Partners
BundeswehrFrench Ministry of DefenceUK Ministry of DefenceUkraineSaabHENSOLDTKongsbergSystematicMistral AILoft OrbitalARX Robotics
Timeline
2025-10
Acquired Blue Ocean, a specialist in autonomous underwater vehicles.
2025-09
Unveiled CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft.
2025-06
Raised EUR 600 million Series D led by Prima Materia, valued at EUR 12 billion. Total capital raised: EUR 1.37 billion.
2024-12
Launched HX-2 strike drone and opened first Resilience Factory (RF-1) in southern Germany.
2024-07
Raised EUR 450 million Series C led by General Catalyst, valued at EUR 5 billion.
2021-03
Founded in Munich by Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf and Niklas Köhler.
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