Helsing and Mistral Partner to Develop Advanced Military AI Systems in Europe
European tech leaders Helsing and Mistral have formed a strategic alliance to build next-generation military AI systems. This partnership unites two of Europe’s most innovative AI startups to enhance defence capabilities across the continent.
A Powerful Collaboration in Defence AI
Helsing, a Germany-based defence tech company, was valued at €5 billion in 2023. Founded in 2021, the company specializes in software for weapons, military vehicles, and strategic operations. Its AI systems are already deployed in battlefield simulations, fighter jets, and drones in Ukraine.
Mistral, a French AI startup, is widely regarded as Europe’s leading competitor to OpenAI. The company raised €600 million last year at a valuation of €5.8 billion, making it one of the continent’s fastest-growing AI firms.
Driving Innovation with Vision-Language-Action (VLA) AI
The alliance was announced at a landmark AI summit in Paris. Helsing and Mistral revealed that their collaboration will focus on Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models—an emerging field of AI that combines visual perception, language understanding, and robotics automation.
By integrating VLA models into defence platforms, the companies aim to improve decision-making, situational awareness, and real-time communication with operators. This breakthrough technology is expected to revolutionize military AI applications in Europe.
The Rise of Military AI in Europe
The partnership comes amid a surge in European defence tech investment. With escalating geopolitical tensions—including concerns over Russia’s military ambitions and uncertainty around NATO’s future—European nations are significantly increasing defence budgets.
Last month, the European Commission allocated over €1 billion to defence R&D projects. Venture capital investment in military AI is also accelerating, with Helsing securing €450 million in funding last June. By collaborating with Mistral, Helsing aims to shape the future of AI-driven defence technologies.
Strengthening Europe’s AI and Defence Leadership
Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, emphasized the importance of AI leadership for Europe’s security and global influence:
“Europe needs to assert its strength as a geopolitical actor, and AI leadership is the key to that strength and Europe’s future security and prosperity. As Europe’s fastest and most ambitious companies in this space, we will advance this leadership for the next generation of defence systems.”
As AI-driven defence systems gain traction, Helsing and Mistral’s partnership positions Europe at the forefront of military AI innovation. Their collaboration could redefine the continent’s defence strategy and technological capabilities for years to come.