The event featured keynote speeches and panel discussions attended by Pål Jonson, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Sir James Everard and Ludger Siemes. The discussions were hosted by Gundbert Scherf, co-chief executive and co-founder of Helsing.
The new hub formalises and expands the company’s existing cooperation with Sweden’s defence sector, including partnerships with industry, government and the armed forces. Helsing said it has been actively engaged in the Swedish defence ecosystem for several years.
One of the company’s most notable projects in Sweden involved an artificial intelligence-enabled air combat demonstration conducted under contract with Sweden’s Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). During the test, Helsing’s AI agent Centaur flew aboard a Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jet over the Baltic Sea and carried out complex beyond-visual-range combat manoeuvres.
The company said the demonstration marked the first publicly known case of artificial intelligence piloting a fully operational fighter aircraft. Helsing has also secured a contract worth hundreds of millions of euros to equip the Eurofighter Typhoon with Cirra, its AI-based electronic warfare software developed in partnership with Saab AB.
According to Helsing, the Stockholm hub will serve as the operational centre for its activities across the Nordic region. The company said the site will focus on artificial intelligence software development, defence partnerships and sovereign capability-building for Sweden and the wider Baltic Sea region.
Helsing said the new presence is intended to strengthen Sweden’s security of supply by enabling faster access to advanced defence technologies. The company described this as particularly important given the current security environment in Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea region and the Arctic.
“Sweden is a cornerstone of European security, and for Helsing, we see this as a new ‘home market’. Our work on integrating our autonomy system Centaur with the Gripen has already proven that combining Swedish industrial excellence with our technology creates an unmatched defence edge,” said Gundbert Scherf, co-chief executive and co-founder of Helsing.
“Sweden ‘gets it’ – from its unique Total Defence concept to the urgency it shares with its NB8 partners. We aren’t just opening an office; we are deepening our roots in a world-class tech ecosystem to ensure the Swedish Armed Forces don’t just keep pace with the future of conflict, but define it,” he added.
“Helsing’s new Stockholm office is a sign of the strength of German-Swedish defence cooperation – a historic partnership rooted in shared interests and a joint commitment to European security,” said Ludger Siemes.
“With a proven track record in Sweden and deep ties to Swedish industry, Helsing is building lasting capability alongside Swedish partners. This is how European defence innovation works: collaborative, sovereign, and forward-looking,” he added.
