Helsing is one of the most valuable defense startups in Europe, which was founded in 2021, and which reached a valuation of twelve billion euros in 2025, promising to revolutionize combat with artificial intelligence drones.
Its devices have been tested by the Ukrainian military since the spring of last year, where The company maintains that its combat-tested software demonstrates its ability to change the rules of engagement.
However, an investigation by the German media Weltbased on internal Ukrainian documents and interviews with soldiers who have operated these drones on the front lines, reveals a very different reality.
Ukrainian soldier Jura, who uses a false name to protect his identity, stated the following: «We did the dirty work for Helsing.» The first months with the German drones were, in his words, a «fiasco».
The technical problems documented in real war conditions raise questions about the company’s ability to fulfill the million-dollar contracts it aspires to obtain from the German Ministry of Defense.
Who is Helsing and what does he promise?
Helsing specializes in defense and AI software applied to unmanned weapons systems. It employs hundreds of people developing kamikaze drones designed to chase vehicles and soldiers behind enemy lines.
The company promises to close military capability gaps in European militaries through advanced technology that enables massive coordinated attacks.
It is currently competing for a contract from the German Federal Ministry of Defense of up to one billion euros to supply up to 12,000 medium-range drones. Next to it are Stark Defense and Rheinmetall, although the latter has delays in its development.
The contract represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate itself as a key supplier to the German armed forces at a time when Europe seeks to reduce its technological dependence on other global players.
The problems with Helsing drones
It should be noted that Ukrainian soldiers Jura and Sascha used Helsing’s HF-1 drones since the spring of 2025. According to their testimonies collected by Welt, the first months were disastrous.
Many devices did not take off or crashed immediately after launch. Those who managed to rise often lost connection a short distance from the catapult.
Internal documents from Ukrainian units from 2025, consulted exclusively by Welt, detail dozens of deficiencies: defective rudder, abnormal behavior on board, non-flyable devices, connection problems, excessive assembly times.
Helsing’s response and the official version
The company described the initial failure rate mentioned as false and some of the information as «only partially understandable.» Helsing argues that the HF-1 model was produced and used within a few weeks together with Ukrainian manufacturers.
According to the company, only around 2.5% of the drones initially had launch problems, a figure much lower than that perceived by soldiers. It is argued that the drone on the front is now a demonstrable success.
In December 2025, it delivered 750 HX-2 drones to Ukraine, approved for combat use. In tests conducted in Germany, this model would have achieved success rates of or close to 100%.
The difference between the company’s official figures and soldiers’ testimonies reflects a common problem in the defense industry: controlled test conditions do not always replicate the complexity of real combat.
Technological promises without real results
Helsing has successfully sold itself as a new European technology giant, reaching a multi-billion dollar valuation and positioning itself for strategic contracts with German defense.
Its public narrative has been effective in attracting investment and media attention, presenting its developments as the vanguard of military innovation. However, the testimonies show a more complex reality.
Significant technical failures during the first months of useforced iterations under enemy fire and Ukrainian military assessments that advise against mass adoption of the initial model.
Although the company claims that the most recent HX-2 model has achieved success rates close to 100% in controlled tests in Germany, it remains to be seen if those results are replicated in real conditions on the front.
In the end, it is the soldiers who validate or deny corporate presentations. In the case of Helsing, this validation has been, at least in its initial phase, much more problematic than what the company publicly presented.