Helsing Enters Missile Air Defence With CONTRA and Two Sub-€100,000 Interceptors
The Munich drone and software maker is pricing two interceptors still in development below €100,000 each, aimed at jet-powered drones that cost far more to shoot down with existing missiles.
The Munich drone and software maker is pricing two interceptors still in development below €100,000 each, aimed at jet-powered drones that cost far more to shoot down with existing missiles.
Helsing unveiled CONTRA, an AI-controlled air defence system, and two interceptors, AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush, at an event in Berlin on Monday, the company said. Both missiles are built to stop jet-powered attack drones and cruise missiles. Every performance figure below is Helsing's own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Helsing's CONTRA?
An AI-controlled air defence system built on Helsing's Altra C2 platform. It fuses radar, electro-optical, infrared and acoustic sensors into one air picture and assigns targets to interceptors, according to the company.
How do AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush differ?
AD-1 is jet-powered, flies above 700 km/h and can loiter and re-engage. AD-2 uses a solid rocket motor, reaches Mach 2.5 and has a range beyond 20 km, per Helsing.
How much will the interceptors cost?
Less than €100,000 each, co-CEO Gundbert Scherf said in Berlin. Helsing says existing interceptor missiles cost €500,000 to €4 million.
When will they be delivered?
Both missiles are still in development. A Helsing representative named the second quarter of 2027 as the earliest delivery date.
Does CONTRA have a customer?
Scherf said the CONTRA command system is under contract with one customer, which he did not name.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.