German company supplies Ukraine with nearly 2,000 AI-powered Kamikaze drones

A German defence technology firm has delivered nearly 2,000 artificial intelligence-equipped kamikaze drones to Ukraine, with further shipments expected, according to a company official.

The delivery of 1,950 HF-1 drones was confirmed by Simon Brünjes, the representative responsible for Helsing’s drone operations in Ukraine. The drones were developed in partnership with Ukrainian manufacturer Terminal Autonomy, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

Brünjes revealed that the HF-1 drones are already deployed with several Ukrainian military units and have shown strong performance in combat scenarios.

“The system has this capability: once it locks onto a target, it remains fixed on it despite all countermeasures by the enemy in the electromagnetic spectrum,” Brünjes explained.

In addition to the HF-1, Helsing is currently testing a new loitering munition known as the HX-2 in Ukraine. The drone features enhanced specifications and was developed entirely in-house by Helsing. It utilizes the same AI-driven targeting software used in the HF-1.

The HX-2 is designed to operate effectively even in environments where GPS or radio communication is disrupted. Brünjes emphasized its resilience on the battlefield:

“There are areas on the Ukrainian front where GPS signals or radio communication at the operating frequency are jammed or completely lost. However, the HX-2 does not fail in such conditions – it returns to the last point where contact was available, enabling the operator to reassess the situation, change the task, choose another sector or assign a new mission.”

According to Helsing, an additional 2,050 drones are scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine in the near future.

By Sabina Mammadli