Helsing, the leading European defence technology company, and Loft Orbital, a pioneer in satellite infrastructure, announced today a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deploy a cutting-edge multi-sensor satellite constellation.
This partnership will harness AI-driven capabilities to deliver real-time intelligence and situational awareness to European defense and security stakeholders. The system is designed for critical missions such as border surveillance, troop movement tracking, and infrastructure protection, ensuring European forces maintain a decisive edge in any operational environment.
The constellation will consist of multiple Loft satellites carrying state-of-the-art multi-sensor payloads, including a comprehensive suite of cameras and RF sensors. These payloads will leverage Helsing’s on-orbit AI processing to detect, identify, and classify military assets worldwide from Low Earth Orbit in real-time. With high reactivity, short revisit periods, and low-latency data processing, this constellation will allow for tactical decision-making and rapid response capabilities.
A Ground-breaking Approach to Tactical Decision-Making
Unlike traditional satellite intelligence systems that rely on post-mission data processing, this constellation will deliver immediate insights through onboard AI processing. High revisit rates will ensure continuous monitoring of key areas, while short response times and real-time alerts will give military decision-makers an operational advantage.
“This partnership is a testament to Europe’s capacity to innovate and lead in the defence space,” said Pierre-Damien Vaujour, CEO of Loft. “Together with Helsing, we’re creating a capability that will provide European governmental and security actors with faster, more reliable intelligence, enabling them to act decisively in any situation.”
Dr. Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, said: “Ukraine has shown that the battlefield is getting ever more transparent, and the fusion of AI and satellite-based reconnaissance is key. Loft and Helsing want to build persistent, near-real-time intelligence capabilities for defence customers. Europe needs to have sovereign access to such space assets – and it needs it now. To accelerate this, both companies are investing their own capital.”
Marc Fontaine, president of Helsing France added: “This partnership combines New Space with New Defense approaches: providing, self-funded, as a service and rapidly the new capabilities required to support sovereign operations. By building on our presence in France and across Europe, we’re helping to shape the future of software-defined space systems.”
With satellite buses already under production and launch slots already secured, the satellites will be launched in 2026.
About Loft
Loft Orbital was founded in 2017 to address the challenge of speed-to-orbit in the space industry. Our mission is to make space simple for our customers by providing a fast, reliable, and straightforward path to deploy their missions. We deploy and operate customer missions with speed, simplicity, and reliability. We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering an end-to-end service model that includes turnkey integration and minimal nonrecurring engineering (NRE). We operate from our facilities in San Francisco, CA, Golden, CO, and Toulouse, France. In 2024, we established Orbitworks, a joint venture with Marlan Space, to create the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company, further expanding our global reach and capabilities. With over 25 missions deployed and a team of more than 250 employees, we serve commercial and government customers worldwide. Our productized satellite platform and inventory-based approach eliminate lead time risks, allowing customers to focus on their payloads and missions.
About Helsing
Helsing is a new type of defence technology and artificial intelligence company. We provide precision mass and autonomous capabilities to democracies so that they can deter and protect. We founded Helsing out of a belief that safety and deterrence is only possible if we embrace software and artificial intelligence to make our forces more effective. With operations in the UK, Germany and France, Helsing has about 400 employees. Helsing has secured a series of government contracts, including the German Eurofighter Electronic Warfare upgrade, the AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System and a number of classified contracts in the maritime and land sectors.
