French Media Visits Europe's Secret Drone Factory

Reference News Network reported on August 16 According to the French magazine "Le Point" website on August 5, the Ukrainian military recently released a video showcasing the launch process of the HX-2 drone produced by the Helsing company, followed by footage of striking targets, praising the high precision of this drone powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The media reporter wanted to explore what is hidden behind this European defense unicorn company.

The reporter boarded a train heading to southern Germany. After disembarking, a black van was waiting near the train station for the reporter, but the destination was not disclosed. The reporter then arrived in front of a building whose appearance was not allowed to be described. Inside this building, like the most sensitive places in the military, the doors were marked with numerical codes instead of names or department titles, making it more difficult for potential spies.

"Le Point" is the first French media outlet authorized to visit the Helsing drone factory. Here, the startup produces the HX-2 drone, which is equivalent to a "super observer" drone equipped with AI technology.

In front of a high-tech control panel, more than a dozen workers were busy. Each component is strictly tracked. Michael Schwikowski, the vice president responsible for physical products at Helsing, proudly stated, "I can tell you which screw belongs to which drone, and I can also tell you which screwdriver was used to tighten the screw. This way, if we find a batch of parts or a tool has defects, we can recall only the affected drones."

In the storage area, 400 large boxes were stacked several meters high. These drones are being shipped to Ukraine. Schwikowski suggested to the reporter, "I want to prove to you that these boxes are all full: pick a box, and let's open it together." The reporter casually pointed to a box high on the left, and it turned out to be just as he said. According to the requirements of the Ukrainian buyer, this box can be moved by a single soldier, and the unboxing process takes only a moment.

In wartime, the main factory may face enemy strikes, but it can be replaced by dozens of micro-factories. These micro-factories require only the space of two standard truck containers and can be transported to various corners of the European continent within hours, significantly increasing the difficulty of being destroyed. More cleverly, worker training is very rapid. Schwikowski said, "A non-skilled worker can be ready to work after just one day of introductory training."

"Production equipment is an indispensable part of the combat system," pointed out Antoine Debraguin, an executive at Helsing who previously worked for the American military industrial giant Palantir Technologies, "The current thinking is no longer about producing and stockpiling, but about producing at the right time and integrating the latest software and hardware technologies."

Founded in 2021, this company has received support from Germany. Germany has ordered 4,300 HX-2 drones, with a contract amount exceeding 250 million euros. Helsing is continuing testing to further improve the drone and its onboard software. (Translated by Lin Xiaoxuan)