On December 2, 2024, Helsing, a defense-focused artificial intelligence (AI) company, officially introduced the HX-2 Karma, an advanced intelligent loitering munition. Prior to its unveiling, widespread media speculation had surrounded what Helsing described as a “strike drone,” believed to be part of the German government’s pledge to supply 4,000 armed drones to Ukraine under its military aid package. The HX-2 Karma is an electrically powered, precision loitering munition featuring an X-wing configuration—four wings and rotors arranged in an X shape—and offers a range of up to 100 km. Designed for scalability and cost-effective mass production, the system incorporates advanced AI to enable swarm operations and strong resistance to jamming in complex electromagnetic environments. Its development and testing have been informed by Helsing’s operational experience in Ukraine.
