German Helsing company has unveiled its latest development, the HX-2 loitering munition, a kamikaze drone. Germany plans to supply 4,000 of these drones to Ukraine, and they have already been somewhat unfairly dubbed the mini-Taurus.
However, this nickname should not detract from the very positive and practical capabilities of this weapon. The features of the HX-2 drone, as announced by Helsing, are quite impressive. It’s important to clarify that this drone is an analog to American Switchblade or russian Lancet drones.
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Like those drones, the HX-2 UAV is designed to strike armored vehicles, artillery, and other military targets, but it offers a significantly greater range, up to 100 km. The drone itself weighs 12 kg, which means its warhead likely weighs a few kilograms. Helsing states that the HX-2 drone is equipped with a cumulative charge but can also be fitted with other types of warheads.
The drone has a declared speed of 220 km/h and features a classic design with an X-shaped wing and tail assembly. One distinctive characteristic is its use of four electric motors with pulling propellers, as opposed to a single pusher propeller.
The key advantage of the HX-2 drone is its advanced combat artificial intelligence. Software development is Helsing’s primary specialty, and the cutting-edge algorithms integrated into the kamikaze drone’s control system allow it to hit targets even when facing active enemy electronic warfare countermeasures. This involves so-called machine vision, enabling automatic target detection, recognition, tracking, and guidance. However, it operates on a human-in-the-loop principle, meaning that a human operator must authorize the strike.
The HX-2 drone is also integrated into Helsing’s broader Altra weapon control system, enabling coordinated swarm attacks with multiple drones.
Equally significant is Helsing’s statement that the HX-2 drone is designed for mass production at significantly lower costs and is already in production. The company has announced plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Europe. Additionally, Helsing confirmed that its core software is already being used in Ukraine.
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