Helsing MILITARY

Target: Helsing GmbH, Helsing Limited and operationally integrated group entities

Research cut-off: 22 October 2026

Scope: Israeli military and security procurement, purpose-built military technology, weapons systems, defence-industry integration, logistics, occupied territories, export controls, controlling principals and civil-society scrutiny.

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

Israeli Ministry of Defence and security-force contracts

No public evidence identified of a directly documented contract, procurement award, framework agreement or memorandum of understanding between Helsing and the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Israel Defence Forces, Israel Prison Service or Israel Border Police.

On 18 September 2025, Helsing publicly stated that its technology was deployed to European countries for deterrence and for defence against Russian aggression in Ukraine, and disputed reports of deployment in other war zones.¹

An investigation published by EBU Spotlight on 28 November 2025 examined allegations connecting Helsing technology to Israel’s operations in Gaza and reported that the claims had spread through confusion surrounding Daniel Ek’s defence investments and the Spotify boycott.²

Defence procurement in other jurisdictions

In June 2023, Helsing and Saab Germany announced their selection for the German Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter electronic warfare upgrade, involving 15 aircraft and Saab’s Arexis sensor suite.³

In September 2023, Helsing disclosed that its consortium had secured a contract for the AI backbone of the Future Combat Air System programme and identified Saab as a strategic investor.⁴

In July 2024, Helsing described government contracts including the Eurofighter programme, the Future Combat Air System and classified maritime and land-domain agreements.⁵

A British government ACOBA letter issued in August 2025 confirmed that Helsing had multiple UK Ministry of Defence or other UK government contracts and recorded an application for a paid senior advisory role by former Armed Forces Minister James Heappey.⁶

Israeli defence directories and exhibitions

No public evidence identified of a Helsing listing documenting Israeli government procurement through SIBAT or an Israeli defence export directory.

Official cooperation announcements

Helsing announced a commercial partnership with Destinus on 20 October 2026 to develop joint strike and air-defence solutions for NATO and allied armed forces, alongside Helsing’s participation in a Destinus financing round.⁷

No public evidence identified that the Destinus announcement constitutes an Israeli procurement agreement.

On 25 February 2026, the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee approved an initial €268 million contract for Helsing’s HX-2 loitering munitions, alongside an equivalent award to Stark Defence for its Virtus system. Defense News reported on 26 February that contractual options could add approximately €1 billion to each agreement, conditional on technological maturity and further parliamentary approval. The contracts included reporting requirements, qualification tests and cancellation provisions, with initial deployment intended for Germany’s armoured brigade stationed in Lithuania in 2027. The additional options represented potential future procurement rather than committed expenditure.⁸

In August 2026, Helsing confirmed that it had reached an initial agreement earlier that year for the Japanese government to use its unmanned systems. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force was conducting field trials of the HX-2 strike drone, scheduled to continue until the end of September 2026. Rakuten was acting as a Japanese commercial and procurement intermediary, helping Helsing navigate government acquisition procedures. Reuters reported statements from both companies on 17 August, while Rakuten separately confirmed its involvement to ITmedia NEWS on 19 August. No final procurement quantity, contract value or delivery schedule was established in the reporting.^{9, 10}

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

Purpose-built military systems

Helsing’s HX-2 is a purpose-built precision strike drone whose stated characteristics include a range of up to 100 kilometres, onboard AI-assisted target engagement, armour-penetrating warhead options and integration with the Altra reconnaissance-strike platform.¹¹

Helsing’s December 2024 HX-2 announcement identified the aircraft as an electrically propelled precision munition designed for mass production and coordinated swarm operations.¹²

Helsing’s Altra platform integrates reconnaissance information, assists effector assignments, supports coordinated strike-drone operations and provides automated artillery fire adjustment; these publicly described functions directly support targeting and kinetic military effects.¹³

The HX-2 product description says a human operator remains in or on the decision loop for critical decisions, while onboard AI can search for and re-identify targets during degraded communications.¹¹

Civilian and military product distinctions

Helsing’s RX-1 robotics research platform was announced on 1 June 2026 for academic and laboratory research, with initial partnerships involving ETH Zurich and INRIA Paris.¹⁴

RX-1’s announced research role is distinct from Helsing’s purpose-built HX-2 strike drone and Altra reconnaissance-strike system.^{11, 13, 14}

No public evidence identified that RX-1 has been supplied to Israeli armed forces or converted into a documented Israeli tactical variant.

Israeli end users

No public evidence identified of a verified Israeli military deployment of HX-2, HF-1, Altra, Cirra, Centaur or a Helsing-specific tactical variant.

Export licensing and end-user certification

No public evidence identified of an export licence, end-user certificate or published government export-control decision specifically authorising Helsing technology for an Israeli military or security recipient.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

Heavy machinery and construction activity

No public evidence identified of Helsing machinery, construction vehicles or engineering equipment being deployed in Israeli settlements, military installations, checkpoints or demolition operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Grob Aircraft and group attribution

Helsing’s September 2025 announcement identified Grob Aircraft as its subsidiary involved in developing and testing the CA-1 Europa autonomous combat aircraft.¹⁵

Helsing’s June 2026 announcement identified Grob Aircraft as the manufacturer of the planned CA-1KA kinetic-attack aircraft and CA-1EA electronic-attack aircraft in southern Germany.¹⁶

No public evidence identified connecting Grob Aircraft to construction, demolition, settlement infrastructure or military engineering operations in occupied territory.

Direct and indirect supply

No public evidence identified of a Helsing dealer, distributor, subcontractor or resale chain supplying construction equipment to Israeli settlements.

Construction and engineering contracts

No public evidence identified of Helsing contracts for checkpoints, detention facilities, settlement infrastructure, separation-barrier construction or Israeli military-base engineering.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

Saab Germany

In June 2023, Helsing and Saab Germany announced their selection to provide AI-enabled electronic warfare capability for German Eurofighters using Helsing software and Saab’s Arexis system.³

On 19 November 2025, Helsing announced a contract with Saab Germany valued at a three-digit million-euro amount to integrate its Cirra AI software into Arexis over approximately three years, including cooperation with Airbus Defence and Space.¹⁷

The publicly identified customer programme concerns German Eurofighter aircraft; the announcement does not identify an Israeli end user.¹⁷

HENSOLDT

On 12 February 2026, Helsing and HENSOLDT announced a strategic partnership involving CA-1 Europa, with HENSOLDT providing radar, optronics, self-protection and electromagnetic-warfare technologies and Helsing providing AI and autonomous-flight capabilities.¹⁸

The partners also described cooperation with Kongsberg on a European space-based intelligence, surveillance and target-acquisition system.¹⁸

No public evidence identified of a Helsing component transfer to Israeli armed forces through HENSOLDT.

OHB, KIRK and associated partners

In June 2026, Helsing described its KIRK joint venture with OHB, involving space-based defence and reconnaissance systems and cooperation with HENSOLDT and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.¹⁹

The announcement identified technology cooperation involving DMI, TerraLens and LiveEO, alongside OHB agreements with other European space companies.¹⁹

No public evidence identified of an Israeli government contract or Israeli military recipient for KIRK technology.

Mistral AI

On 10 February 2025, Helsing and Mistral AI announced a partnership to develop vision-language-action models for defence applications, combining generative AI with Helsing’s military technology.²⁰

The announcement described battlefield decision-support and human-AI collaboration rather than an Israeli military procurement programme.²⁰

Destinus

On 20 October 2026, Helsing and Destinus announced cooperation combining strike systems, air-defence technology and industrial manufacturing for NATO and allied armed forces.⁷

No public evidence identified of an Israeli supply agreement resulting from this partnership.

Israeli defence manufacturers

No public evidence identified of a verified direct component-supply agreement, licensed manufacturing arrangement, joint-development programme or technology-transfer agreement between Helsing and Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems or Israel Military Industries.

Indirect commercial relationships

The Palestinian BDS National Committee’s February 2026 Spotify campaign identified Helsing relationships with Saab, Airbus and other international defence companies while separately citing those companies’ relationships with Israel.²¹

The campaign’s cited relationships do not, by themselves, identify a Helsing product supplied to Israeli forces or a Helsing component integrated into an Israeli military platform.²¹

During Exercise Haraka Storm in Kenya in 2025, Helsing and ARX Robotics demonstrated an integrated reconnaissance-to-strike sequence with personnel from the British Army’s 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS). An ARX Robotics Gereon unmanned ground vehicle located a simulated armoured target and transmitted targeting information to battlegroup headquarters, enabling a Helsing HX-2 loitering munition to engage the designated target. ARX Robotics reported successful completion of the sequence, including target acquisition, engagement and damage assessment, under controlled training conditions. Independent defence reporting confirmed that the engagement involved a simulated armoured fighting vehicle. The exercise demonstrated operational integration between Helsing’s strike munition and ARX’s ground reconnaissance platform.^{22, 23}

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

Military-base services

No public evidence identified of Helsing contracts to provide catering, fuel, telecommunications, waste management, facilities maintenance, transport or other base-support services to the IDF or Israeli security installations.

Geographic scope

No public evidence identified of Helsing military-support services at Israeli installations in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights or Negev.

European production and Ukrainian supply

Helsing announced on 13 February 2025 that it was producing 6,000 HX-2 strike drones for Ukraine, following an earlier order for 4,000 HF-1 strike drones, and identified its first Resilience Factory in southern Germany.²⁴

The announcement described a defence manufacturing and supply programme for Ukraine, without identifying Israel as a recipient.²⁴

Shipping and freight

No public evidence identified of Helsing shipping, freight-forwarding, port-handling or military-cargo agreements specifically serving Israeli defence logistics.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

HX-2 precision strike munition

On 2 December 2024, Helsing unveiled HX-2 as a software-defined, electrically propelled strike munition intended to engage military targets at distances of up to 100 kilometres.¹²

The company’s technical description identifies selectable payload configurations, including anti-tank and anti-structure munitions, and onboard AI for target search, re-identification and engagement.¹¹

Helsing’s February 2025 production announcement identified Ukraine as the destination of 6,000 additional HX-2 drones.²⁴

No public evidence identified of HX-2 procurement, operational deployment or licensed manufacture for Israeli forces.

HF-1 strike drone

Helsing’s February 2025 announcement identified an earlier order of 4,000 HF-1 strike drones for Ukraine, delivered in cooperation with Ukrainian industry.²⁴

No public evidence identified of an Israeli HF-1 customer.

Altra reconnaissance-strike software

Helsing markets Altra as a system integrating reconnaissance sources, target information, AI-assisted weapon assignment and coordination of indirect fires and strike-drone swarms.¹³

Its described functionality includes automated fire adjustment and integration with artillery, mortars, remote-controlled weapon stations, reconnaissance drones and strike drones.¹³

No public evidence identified of Altra integration into an Israeli military targeting, fire-control or weapons system.

CA-1 Europa and kinetic-attack variants

In September 2025, Helsing unveiled the CA-1 Europa programme as an autonomous uncrewed combat aircraft intended for missions including precision strikes, supported by its Centaur AI pilot and Grob Aircraft’s manufacturing capabilities.¹⁵

On 10 June 2026, Helsing identified two configurations: CA-1KA for kinetic attack and CA-1EA for electronic attack, with planned initial operational capability in 2029 and 2031 respectively.¹⁶

The announced development schedule anticipated the first flight of the attack configuration in early 2027.¹⁶

No public evidence identified of completed deliveries of CA-1 aircraft to Israel.

Centaur autonomous combat AI

Helsing’s September 2025 CA-1 announcement described Centaur as an autonomous fighter-pilot AI demonstrated with Saab on a Gripen aircraft.¹⁵

In April 2026, Helsing stated that Centaur had flown aboard a Gripen E under a Swedish Defence Materiel Administration contract, while identifying its European defence programmes.²⁵

No public evidence identified of Israeli military use of Centaur.

Cirra and electronic warfare

Helsing’s November 2025 announcement identified Cirra as AI software for Saab’s Arexis electronic warfare system, with functions including radar-emitter classification, threat analysis and support for combat aircraft operating against air-defence systems.¹⁷

The publicly announced integration concerns the German Eurofighter programme.¹⁷

No public evidence identified of Cirra being installed in an Israeli combat aircraft or strategic weapons platform.

Strategic defence platforms

No public evidence identified of Helsing supplying components, guidance electronics, fire-control software, propulsion systems or other critical subsystems for Israeli Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, Merkava, naval combat systems or ballistic-missile programmes.

Munitions and precursor materials

No public evidence identified of Helsing supplying explosives, propellants, ammunition, warhead components or munitions precursor materials to Israeli military end users.

Deutsche Welle’s firsthand reporting, published on 3 July 2026, documented operational difficulties experienced by Ukrainian personnel testing Helsing’s HX-2 near Pokrovsk in March 2026. During an observed combat mission, the drone initially failed to leave its launch catapult because its motor did not start. Technicians subsequently resolved the immediate problem, and the aircraft launched on a second attempt. The crew also experienced difficulties establishing communication between the drone and its ground station. Although the launch succeeded, deteriorating weather and navigation problems subsequently forced the crew to abort the mission. On a later deployment, after the journalists had departed, Ukrainian personnel successfully struck a truck and showed Deutsche Welle reconnaissance footage of the engagement. These observations established both operational capability and reliability limitations, without providing a statistically representative HX-2 success rate.²⁶

Ukrainian operators interviewed by Deutsche Welle described the HX-2 as manoeuvrable and comparatively difficult to intercept, but vulnerable to electronic warfare. Its onboard artificial intelligence could independently identify potential targets, after which a human pilot confirmed the selection before autonomous continuation of the attack. Operators identified a specific limitation: the system could not determine whether a selected target had already been destroyed. Personnel also acknowledged additional technical shortcomings that they declined to disclose publicly. These findings distinguish demonstrated target-recognition functions from comprehensive autonomous battlefield assessment.²⁶

Helsing disputed earlier reports alleging widespread HX-2 failures, describing initial frontline testing results as encouraging in January 2026. In its subsequent response to Deutsche Welle, the manufacturer stated that insufficient HX-2 sorties had occurred to support a definitive assessment of combat performance and confirmed ongoing adaptation to changing Russian electronic-warfare measures. Ukrainian personnel reported maintaining a technical-support channel with Helsing and expecting manufacturer representatives to investigate identified problems. Helsing did not provide Deutsche Welle with an HX-2 hit rate when asked in late April 2026. A Ukrainian senior sergeant separately reported that the earlier HF-1 model had improved following manufacturer feedback and achieved a hit rate exceeding 50% in the Pokrovsk sector; that figure concerned HF-1 and cannot be attributed to HX-2.²⁶

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

Israeli export licensing

No public evidence identified of an Israeli-destination export licence granted, denied, suspended or revoked for Helsing products.

German defence contracts

Helsing’s June 2023 Eurofighter announcement identified Germany’s defence procurement agency, BAAINBw, as confirming the selection of Helsing and Saab for the programme.³

The November 2025 announcement described a subsequent contract and the planned integration of Cirra with Saab’s Arexis sensor suite.¹⁷

United Kingdom regulatory history

In August 2025, the UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments considered former Armed Forces Minister James Heappey’s proposed paid senior advisory position with Helsing Limited.⁶

The committee recorded Helsing’s existing UK government contracts and Heappey’s previous official dealings with the company, while stating that he had not made decisions specific to Helsing during his ministerial service.⁶

The correspondence concerned UK public-office appointment rules and did not document an Israeli military supply arrangement.⁶

Export-control enforcement

No public evidence identified of a published sanctions enforcement action, arms-embargo investigation or export-control penalty involving Helsing’s supply of military technology to Israel.

Litigation

No public evidence identified of court proceedings or judicial review specifically alleging a Helsing military supply relationship with Israeli state forces.

Continued defence activity after July and November 2024

Helsing continued announcing military manufacturing, weapons development and defence partnerships after July and November 2024, including the December 2024 HX-2 unveiling, February 2025 Ukrainian drone production announcement and November 2025 Eurofighter agreement.^{12, 24, 17}

The publicly identified recipients and programmes in those announcements concern Ukraine and European defence activities.^{12, 24, 17}

No public evidence identified establishing continued Helsing military supply to Israel after 19 July 2024 or November 2024.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

United Nations and settlement-business reporting

The UN Human Rights Council considered an updated database of businesses involved in settlement-related activities at its September 2026 session, with the Deputy High Commissioner describing a database containing 214 enterprises from 11 countries.²⁷

No public evidence identified from the accessible material establishing Helsing’s inclusion in the OHCHR settlement-business database.

No independently verified finding naming Helsing in the military-related portions of Special Rapporteur report A/HRC/59/23 was established during this research.

Organised boycott campaigns

In September 2025, Euronews reported that Massive Attack had joined artists withdrawing music from Spotify in protest against Daniel Ek’s investment in Helsing, amid wider campaigns relating to Israel and Gaza.²⁸

The reporting distinguished the artists’ objections to military AI investment from the unverified allegation that Helsing technology was deployed in Gaza.²⁸

On 24 February 2026, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel published a campaign supporting a consumer boycott of Spotify, identifying Daniel Ek’s investment in Helsing and Helsing’s relationships with international defence manufacturers among its stated concerns.²¹

The campaign identified indirect corporate relationships and did not provide a named Israeli procurement award establishing a direct Helsing-to-IDF supply contract.²¹

Independent investigation

An EBU Spotlight investigation published on 28 November 2025 examined how the Spotify boycott and concerns about Helsing’s military technology became associated with allegations of deployment in Israel or Gaza.²

The investigation reported Helsing’s denial and distinguished the company’s stated European and Ukrainian activities from allegations concerning Israeli military use.²

Corporate response

On 18 September 2025, Helsing stated: “Our technology is deployed to European countries for deterrence and for defence against the Russian aggression in Ukraine only.”¹

Euronews reported the company’s statement and Spotify’s position that Spotify and Helsing were separate businesses.²⁸

Founders, board members and controlling principals

Helsing’s July 2024 financing announcement identified founders Niklas Köhler, Torsten Reil and Gundbert Scherf and investors including General Catalyst, Elad Gil, Accel, Saab, Lightspeed, Plural and Greenoaks.⁵

Helsing’s June 2025 announcement identified Daniel Ek as chairman and founder of Prima Materia, which led the company’s €600 million Series D funding round.²⁹

In July 2026, Helsing announced a US$1.8 billion Series E and confirmed that its board continued to include co-chairmen Daniel Ek and Tom Enders, Jeannette zu Fürstenberg and Denis Mercier, alongside the founders.³⁰

The July 2026 announcement named additional institutional investors including Dragoneer, Lightspeed, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, JPMorganChase and CPP Investments.³⁰

No public evidence identified of a verified personal FIDF donation, Israeli military procurement arrangement, Israeli defence-industry directorship or settlement-related military activity attributable to the named Helsing controlling principals.

Corporate policy and geographic deployment

Helsing’s September 2025 statement limited its publicly declared deployment footprint to European deterrence and the defence of Ukraine against Russian aggression.¹

No public evidence identified of a later Helsing announcement confirming military technology deployment by Israeli forces.

Settlement operations

No public evidence identified of Helsing or an identified group subsidiary operating military installations, logistics services, weapons manufacturing, construction activities or authorised distribution facilities within Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or Golan Heights.