Helsing unveils lower-cost AI air defence system to counter mass attacks
British defence technology firm Helsing has unveiled Contra, an AI-assisted air defence system designed to detect and intercept drones and cruise missiles. The system is intended to offer towns, cities and military sites a more affordable way to defend against large-scale aerial attacks, amid concerns about Russian drone production and possible sabotage activity across Europe.
Contra links existing radars and sensors to two new interceptors, the AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush, and is designed to coordinate responses to hundreds or thousands of threats. The Inferno can travel at more than 400mph, has a 12-mile range and can reach targets above five miles; the supersonic Ambush is intended for faster threats. Helsing says each missile costs under £100,000, compared with more than £3 million for a Patriot missile, and that people remain involved in launch decisions.
In short
- Helsing unveiled its AI-assisted Contra air defence system.
- Its two interceptor missiles each cost under £100,000.
- Human operators can oversee targeting and launch decisions.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “British experts design cheap AI missiles ‘that can create mini “Iron Domes” to protect towns and cities from Putin attack’”.