Grundbert Scherf, co‑founder of the Munich start‑up Helsing, argues that the NATO eastern flank should be equipped largely with European weapons rather than U.S. systems. “We have had enough wake‑up calls” he told “Spiegel”. “On the eastern flank we should be able to act militarily, as far as possible, purely European”.
Scherf’s company produces so‑called “lurking munitions” kamikaze drones, and he believes the U.S.‑centric procurement model must change. “It absurdly is often easier to buy a U.S. product than a European one” he explained. The policy, he insists, must immediately order more armaments within Europe and swiftly amend the rigid EU procurement rules. Scherf has experience with German defense procurement, having served from 2014 as a special adviser to Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen for two years.
The Bundeswehr plans to use the current Helsing model, HX‑2, for its initial kamikaze drone kit, awaiting Bundestag approval. When questioned about the widespread criticism of AI‑assisted weapon systems, Scherf emphasized his commitment to ethics. Many of his staff come from non‑defence backgrounds and want to stand morally behind their products. “We don’t build autonomous killer machines” he stressed. “No machine decides”.
Instead, the AI system merely automates reconnaissance, freeing soldiers from reviewing imagery frame by frame and giving them more time for human judgement. The enhanced surveillance, he argues, can deliver more precise strikes than human operators operating under pressure. “Conventional artillery basically fires blind in comparison” Scherf asserted.
