German AI-led defence technology company Helsing is set to establish a cutting-edge drone submarine factory in Plymouth, as part of a substantial £350 million investment in the UK. This significant commitment promises to deliver high-quality employment opportunities to the region.
The Munich-headquartered firm will construct its “Resilience Factory” at the Langage freeport site in Plympton this year. The UK Government has hailed the facility as a cornerstone of Britain’s strategy to unlock the economic potential of its defence industry. Helsing further stated that the so-called Resilience Factory is due to commence production of its SG-1 Fathom “autonomous underwater gliders” by the end of 2025. These AI-powered miniature submarines are specifically designed to protect critical underwater infrastructure for allied navies.
This development forms part of Helsing’s accelerated UK investment through its Trinity House initiative, an effort aimed at doubling the size of the company’s British operations. The investment is anticipated to create specialist, high-value jobs across Plymouth, the South Hams, and the wider region, thereby supporting the growth of sovereign UK defence technology and supply chains. It also aligns with the Government’s broader ambition of generating 14,000 additional jobs in the defence sector, alongside a commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027.
Helsing has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s most valuable defence start-ups. In June, Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s investment company led a €600 million funding round that valued the tech group at €12 billion, reflecting a significant surge in investor interest in the defence sector. Initially focused purely on producing AI software for current and future weapons systems.
Helsing has since expanded into manufacturing its own drones and unmanned underwater vessels. Though founded by three Germans, the company maintains offices in London and Paris, in addition to its Munich and Berlin bases, and actively seeks to position itself as a pan-European enterprise at a time when the continent is striving to bolster its defence capabilities and foster local production.
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