Helsing and Systematic have forged a strategic partnership to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities with AI-powered swarm technology, a move that could redefine the continent’s approach to modern warfare. The agreement, signed on 10 September at the DSEI defence exhibition in London, underscores a shared commitment to enhancing Europe’s digital defence industrial base through faster decision-making, advanced targeting, and precision mass strike capabilities.
By integrating Helsing’s AI-driven defence platforms with Systematic’s SitaWare suite of C4ISR systems—already deployed by over 50 nations—the partnership aims to empower militaries with unparalleled operational agility. The collaboration will enable seamless integration of autonomous sensors and effectors, ensuring that armed forces are “drone ready” and capable of executing complex swarm operations with unprecedented efficiency.
The technology will facilitate rapid data exchange between unmanned systems, including ISR platforms and Helsing’s HX-2 strike drone, which has already seen action in Ukraine. SitaWare users will gain the ability to develop target lists, create mission plans, task strike assets, and deconflict airspace at speeds previously unattainable. This end-to-end F3EAD (Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit, Analyse, Disseminate) process will allow commanders to leverage real-time intelligence for precise and decisive action.
“This partnership brings together two entrepreneurial and sovereign European technology companies: Systematic, the leader in interoperable battle management systems, and Helsing, at the forefront of AI-enabled reconnaissance and strike,” said Gundbert Scherf, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Helsing. “We share a mission and an ambition—to intelligently network our forces at the speed the threat situation demands. What wins wars is not individual systems, but the ability to connect them and to iterate at the speed of relevance. Together, we will deliver exactly that for Europe’s defence.”
Michael Holm, Chairman and Founder of Systematic, echoed this sentiment: “Systematic has always been at the forefront of data delivery for military operations, with Helsing emerging as one of the major European players in AI and new technologies. As the AI age is increasing how we can use data, partnerships such as this help our users to get the most out of their systems, and the other platforms that support them. As Europe continues to invest in its own defence technological and industrial base, we are helping to improve European sovereignty, while also providing our allies and partners with advanced data solutions.”
The partnership comes at a critical juncture, as European militaries seek to apply lessons from Ukraine and adapt to the evolving threat landscape. By combining AI-driven reconnaissance and strike capabilities with robust C4ISR systems, Helsing and Systematic are not only enhancing operational effectiveness but also reinforcing Europe’s technological sovereignty. This collaboration could set a new standard for defence innovation, ensuring that European forces remain at the cutting edge of modern warfare.