Founder Grundbert Scherf of the Munich startup Helsing argues that the NATO eastern flank should be equipped primarily with European weapons systems instead of American ones. “We’ve had enough wake‑up calls” he told “Der Spiegel”. “On the eastern flank we must be able to act militarily in a purely European way wherever possible” he added, noting that his company produces “lurking ammunition” – the so‑called kamikaze drones.
To achieve this goal, Scherf says policy must begin ordering more armaments from Europe immediately and push to change the strict EU procurement rules “as soon as possible”. “It’s absurd that it is often easier to buy a U.S. product than a European one” he explained. Scherf has previously advised German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) as a special consultant for a more efficient acquisition process in the Defence Ministry for two years starting in 2014.
The German armed forces plan to use Helsing’s current HX‑2 kamikaze drone model as part of their initial kit. The Bundestag still needs to approve the purchase. When asked about the widespread criticism of AI‑assisted weapons systems, Scherf said he takes ethical concerns seriously. Many of his own employees come from non‑defence backgrounds and want to stand morally behind the products. “We do not build autonomous killer machines” he said. “No machine makes a decision on its own”.
In Scherf’s view, the AI component simply automates intelligence gathering. Soldiers would no longer have to analyse footage image by image, freeing up time for human decision‑making. He claims better reconnaissance can deliver more precise strikes than human operators working under pressure, noting that “classic artillery essentially fires blindly in comparison”.
