European AI defense-tech startup Helsing has unveiled its Contra air defense system with artificial intelligence, designed to repel massive drone and missile attacks. Along with the system, the company announced two new interceptor missiles, the AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush, designed to destroy high-speed air targets.
European AI defense-tech startup Helsing has unveiled its Contra air defense system with artificial intelligence, designed to repel massive drone and missile attacks. Along with the system, the company announced two new interceptor missiles, the AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush, designed to destroy high-speed air targets.
This is stated in the company's press release.
The development of Contra was a response to a significant increase in the production of Russian jet drones and cruise missiles. In particular, the monthly production of the Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet UAVs has increased to 4,000 units, and the construction of new launch sites poses a direct threat to the territory of EU countries.
The main technical and functional features of the presented complex:
Contra system: Powered by artificial intelligence algorithms and the Altra control platform, it is capable of combining data from various sensors and weapons into a single picture and simultaneously tracking and engaging hundreds or thousands of targets, while maintaining full decision-making control for the human operator.
AD-1 Inferno Interceptor: A jet-powered interceptor drone capable of aerial patrol, swarming, and repeated attacks on a target.
AD-2 Ambush missile: a solid-fueled interceptor that can reach speeds of Mach 2.5 and has a range of over 20 km.
Both interceptors are equipped with all-weather radar homing heads and are launched from transport-launch containers. Production is planned to be launched at the Helsing Resilience Factories, and the cost of the new missiles will be significantly lower than existing analogues on the market. In addition to its own missiles, the Contra system provides for the rapid integration of third-party means: anti-drone lasers, guns and mesh interceptors.
"Contra eliminates the air defense dilemma of using slow drones, whose effectiveness depends on weather conditions, or missiles costing millions of euros to destroy cheap mass-produced targets. Our real-time AI integrates existing sensors and weapons, complementing them with our AD-1 and AD-2 interceptors," said Helsing co-founder and president Niklas Köhler.
Helsing is one of the most valuable European defense-tech startups, specializing in the integration of artificial intelligence into military technologies. In the summer, Helsing appointed Andriy Shevchenko — former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, diplomat and ex-People's Deputy — as Managing Director in Ukraine.
