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German AI-led defence technology company Helsing is set to establish a cutting-edge drone submarine factory in Plymouth, as part of a substantial £350m investment in the UK, promising to deliver high-quality employment opportunities to the region.
The Munich HQ’ed firm will construct its "Resilience Factory" at the Langage freeport site in Plympton this year, with the Government announcing the facility as a cornerstone of Britain's strategy to unlock the economic potential of its defence industry. Helsing added the so-called Resilience Factory was due to start production of the SG-1 Fathom "autonomous underwater gliders" by the end of 2025. The AI-powered miniature submarines are designed to protect critical underwater infrastructure for allied navies.
The development forms part of Helsing's accelerated UK investment through its Trinity House initiative, which aims to double the size of the company's British operations. The investment is expected to create specialist, high-value jobs across Plymouth, the South Hams, and the wider region, supporting the growth of sovereign UK defence technology and supply chains. It aligns with the Government's broader ambition of delivering 14,000 additional jobs in the defence sector, as well as a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027.
Helsing has emerged as one of Europe's most valuable defence start-ups. Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s investment company led a €600mn funding round in June that valued the tech group at €12bn, amid a surge in interest in the defence sector among investors. Helsing started out focused purely on producing AI software for current and future weapons but has since expanded into producing its own drones and unmanned underwater vessels. Though founded by three Germans, it has offices in London and Paris as well as Munich and Berlin and is eager to present itself as a pan-European company at a time when the continent is seeking to boost its defence capabilities and foster local production.
Posted by: Simon Baxter at 10:12
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defence
AI