OMM Newsroom
German defense technology company Helsing is preparing to unveil new artificial intelligence-based targeting software as concerns grow in Europe about reliance on US technology. Britain has also announced it will invest $121 million (£90 million) to track Russian submarines, AnewZ reported.
Helsing aims to compete with US defense technology companies such as Palantir and present its software as a European alternative.
Britain announced on Tuesday that it would allocate $121 million (£90 million) to drones, sensors and artificial intelligence systems to help the Royal Navy track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic and protect critical infrastructure.
Regarding the launch in Berlin, Helsing said: “Accurately gathering intelligence, making the right decisions amid uncertainty, and acting on the battlefield independently and precisely — from Europe and for Europe — is essential.”
The war in Ukraine has shown how quickly analyzing large volumes of data collected from drones, satellites and other sensors can speed up battlefield decision-making.
Concerns over reliance on US technology
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from NATO. This has heightened concerns in Europe about dependence on Washington and control over sensitive data. The uncertainty has strengthened opposition to Palantir, one of the US defense software and data analytics companies.
Palantir developed Maven Smart System, one of the best-known military artificial intelligence platforms. The system is used by the United States, NATO commands and several alliance members.
The company says its customers have full operational control over its software and stresses that there is no “kill switch” that would allow the systems to be shut down remotely.
Last month, restrictions on the speed of Ukraine’s Starlink terminals hindered Kyiv’s attempts to intercept Russian drones and led to the cancellation of some operations.
In June, the Trump administration sought to prevent non-US citizens from accessing Mythos and Fable, Anthropic’s most advanced artificial intelligence models, citing national security concerns. Anthropic subsequently suspended access to the models worldwide.
Although the restrictions were lifted later that month, European lawmakers said the episode had exposed Washington’s ability to control critical technologies through a “kill switch.”
Germany has so far declined to purchase Palantir’s Maven system for its armed forces. Instead, the country plans to launch its own AI-based military system in 2027 and complete its rollout by 2028.
Britain expands submarine surveillance capabilities
Alongside efforts to strengthen Europe’s technological independence, Britain is expanding its ability to detect Russian submarine activity.
The $121 million (£90 million) investment will fund a network of autonomous systems equipped with advanced sensors. The network is intended to improve integrated surveillance capabilities for detecting and tracking submarines.
Western officials have warned of increased Russian activity near critical undersea infrastructure, raising concerns about the security of vital communications and energy networks.
Britain announced in April that it had deployed warships to deter Russian submarines operating in and around British waters for more than a month. London warned Moscow that attempts to damage undersea cables or pipelines would have “serious consequences.” Russia denied the allegations.
NATO allies have stepped up surveillance of undersea infrastructure in recent years. Cables carry much of the world’s internet traffic and underpin international financial transactions.
