The Bundeswehr (German Armed Force) is taking a decisive step into the era of AI-driven warfare with the Bundeswehr’s recent procurement of the HX-2 loitering munition. Developed by defense tech firm Helsing, the HX-2 represents a significant leap in autonomous battlefield capability — and a direct response to evolving threats exemplified by Russia’s widespread use of Shahed and Lancet drones in Ukraine. In an announcement dated 17 April, the Bundeswehr confirmed that two major contracts for “a large number” of loitering munitions have been signed. While the exact figures remain classified, these systems are currently undergoing field testing by the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle (WTD) 51 technical center at an undisclosed site within Germany. The goal is clear: integrate HX-2 into German combat units for early feedback and tactical incorporation before a larger procurement decision is made in 2025.
The HX-2 is far more than just another loitering munition. Armed with onboard artificial intelligence, the system is capable of operating autonomously in GPS-denied environments and under intense electronic warfare (EW) conditions. Unlike many conventional drones, the HX-2 can identify, re-engage, and strike targets without a continuous signal — a feature designed explicitly with the contested electronic spectrum of modern warfare in mind. At the heart of HX-2’s capabilities is its integration into Helsing’s Altra platform — a comprehensive reconnaissance-strike software suite that links loitering munitions, ISR assets, artillery systems, and battlefield management tools into a scalable “system of systems.” While AI powers target recognition and self-learning functions, a human operator remains in or on the loop for all critical decisions, reflecting NATO’s emphasis on ethical autonomy.
Helsing’s production ramp-up mirrors the Bundeswehr’s urgency. The company’s first “resilience factory,” inaugurated in southern Germany on 13 February, currently produces 450 HX-2 units monthly, with the capacity to surge up to 1,000. A second facility is expected to push total monthly output to 2,500 — a strategic move to meet wartime requirements. Bundeswehr planners estimate a need for 120,000 HX-2s to sustain 60 days of high-intensity conflict, with an additional 80,000 to buffer against depot losses from air or missile strikes. Crucially, Helsing’s approach is shaped by its experience supplying thousands of HF-1 drones to Ukraine. The company stresses affordability, positioning the HX-2 as a cost-effective counter to Russian Lancet drones. The HX-2 program signals Germany’s intent to modernize its military doctrine, moving beyond legacy systems and static defenses.
Helsing SE is a German defence technology company based in Munich. Founded in 2021 by Torsten Reil, Gundbert Scherf, and Niklas Köhler, the company develops military drones as well as artificial intelligence software designed to enhance weapons systems and improve battlefield decision-making. Their loitering munition drones, HF-1 and HX-2, use AI and stored map data to navigate and target without the need for GPS. The reconnaissance-strike software integrated into the drones, called Altra, can combine data feeds from multiple drones to cover a wider area and identify targets, giving operators additional time to assess the situation and make more accurate decisions. Altra is a system that combines reconnaissance information from ISR drones, spotters and any other source of data for land combat. The information is treated in a ground station with high computing capacity. And it feeds back a highly precise situation of the battlefield, and provides targeting information for indirect fire (mortar, artillery, rocket launcher), weapon stations and strike drones.
