Defense AI Startup Helsing Raises $1.2 Billion, Moves Into Hardware

Munich-based Helsing closed a $1.2 billion fundraise at an $18 billion valuation, led by Dragoneer and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The company is shifting from pure software into manufacturing drones, aircraft, and submarines. The move reflects a broader pattern among defense AI startups: controlling hardware production alongside software to optimize autonomous systems, where split-second response times demand tight integration between the two.