German Defense Tech Firm Helsing Commits $50M to Build HX-2 AI Attack Drone Factory in West Virginia
German AI-driven defense company Helsing has announced a $50 million investment to establish a manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia, dedicated to producing its HX-2 AI-powered attack drone. The plant is expected to create at least 60 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of approximately $125,000, marking a major step in Helsing's expansion into the U.S. defense industrial base.
Highlights
- Helsing is investing $50 million to build an HX-2 AI attack drone manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
- The Berkeley County plant will create at least 60 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of approximately $125,000.
- U.S. General Manager Jennifer McArdle cited West Virginia's skilled workforce, infrastructure, and manufacturing capabilities as key factors in the site selection.
- The HX-2 is Helsing's flagship attack drone, designed for mass production and rapid large-scale deployment.
- European defense firms including Saab, Kongsberg, and Rheinmetall are following a similar trend of expanding U.S.-based manufacturing amid domestic sourcing policy pressures.
German AI-focused defense technology company Helsing has announced a $50 million investment to establish a manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, West Virginia, dedicated to producing its HX-2 AI-powered attack drone. The move represents a significant expansion of the company's footprint beyond Europe and into the U.S. defense market.
Berkeley County Facility Details
According to West Virginia state officials, the new plant — located in Berkeley County — is expected to create at least 60 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of approximately $125,000, well above local wage averages.
Initial production at the facility will focus on the HX-2, an AI-enabled attack drone designed for large-scale deployment and rapid fielding in modern conflict environments.
Why West Virginia?
HelsinG U.S. General Manager Jennifer McArdle said West Virginia was selected for its skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and strong manufacturing capabilities — all of which position the state as an ideal base for the company to deepen its integration into the U.S. defense industrial base.
A Growing Trend: European Defense Firms Expanding U.S. Manufacturing
HelsinG is not alone in its push to establish American manufacturing operations. Several major European defense companies have made similar moves in recent years:
- Sweden's Saab has announced or expanded U.S. production lines
- Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace continues to grow its engineering and manufacturing presence in the U.S.
- Germany's Rheinmetall has unveiled its own U.S. production plans
This trend is driven by surging global defense demand and a clear U.S. government policy preference for domestically manufactured defense systems, prompting foreign primes to localize production in order to remain competitive for American contracts.
About Helsing
HelsinG is a European defense technology company with artificial intelligence at its core, focused on developing AI-enabled defense systems for democratic nations. The HX-2 is its flagship attack drone, engineered for mass production and rapid deployment — embodying the modern "expendable" drone warfare doctrine that has gained prominence following lessons learned in recent conflicts.
This U.S. facility investment not only marks a new scale of operations for Helsing, but also underscores the growing strategic importance of AI-powered attack drones within the global defense procurement landscape.
Image credit: Helsing
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