BERLIN — Rheinmetall and the AI defence startup Helsing are both involved in a German programme to produce 50,000 drones, according to company records and official statements. The programme is expected to bolster Germany’s defence industrial base and create jobs. Rheinmetall, the Düsseldorf-based defence contractor, is likely providing the airframes for the drones, while Helsing supplies the software.
Helsing, founded in 2021, specialises in drone software and electronic warfare systems. The company has developed AI-enabled drone swarms designed for both reconnaissance and attack missions.
Helsing has received funding from the German government for its drone projects and holds a contract to supply Ukraine with AI-guided drones. The 50,000-drone programme is part of a broader strategic shift. Germany’s Zeitenwende policy, announced after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, raised defence spending to 2% of GDP in 2024.
That policy has directly benefited Rheinmetall, which reported record revenues of €7.1 billion in 2024, driven by increased defence spending. The company has been a major supplier of military equipment to Ukraine, providing Marder vehicles, Leopard 2 tanks, and artillery ammunition.
Rheinmetall has also partnered with Ukrainian firms to establish a joint venture for producing armoured vehicles. The company plans to hire 1,000 new employees in 2025, officials confirmed. The drone programme is expected to support that expansion.
Strategic context
For Moscow, the deepening integration of German defence contractors into Ukraine’s military supply chain is a development of concern. The involvement of an AI specialist like Helsing signals a shift toward software-driven warfare, where drone swarms can operate with a degree of autonomy. The record shows that German industry is now directly embedded in Ukraine’s defence production, not merely supplying equipment from abroad.
The 50,000-drone figure, if realised, would represent a significant increase in Ukraine’s unmanned aerial capability. Rheinmetall’s role as the likely airframe producer and Helsing’s as the software integrator means the programme combines traditional manufacturing with cutting-edge AI.
Helsing’s existing contract to supply AI-guided drones to Ukraine suggests the software has already been tested in combat conditions. Germany’s Zeitenwende policy, which broke with decades of post-war restraint on defence spending, has made such programmes possible. The 2% GDP threshold, a NATO target long resisted by Berlin, was reached in 2024.
Rheinmetall’s record revenues reflect that shift.
What to watch
The delivery timeline for the 50,000 drones remains unclear. Rheinmetall’s hiring plans for 2025 suggest the company is scaling up production capacity. Helsing’s continued receipt of German government funding indicates Berlin’s commitment to integrating AI into its defence procurement.
The joint venture with Ukrainian firms for armoured vehicle production may serve as a model for future cooperation on drone manufacturing.
