Helsing launches European alternative to Palantir’s military AI

German defense tech firm Helsing announced the launch of Clarity, a military AI platform designed to serve as a sovereign European alternative to U.S. providers like Palantir, according to a Nov. 11 press release. Clarity promises military control over its data, AI models, and operations.

The platform utilizes hundreds of specialized AI agents to simultaneously analyze satellite imagery, drone video, signals, and written reports, according to Helsing. This capability helps identify potential targets and prepare information for weapons systems, with every target requiring human approval and handover.

Helsing co-founder and co-CEO Gundbert Scherf emphasized the importance of sovereignty, stating in the press release that "a capability this critical must be sovereign." The company assures that its software and AI models are developed in Europe and run on customer-owned infrastructure.

NATO currently employs Palantir's Maven Smart System. In May, then-Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed that Ukraine had utilized Palantir's technology for intelligence analysis and planning long-range strikes. Additionally, Ukraine is cultivating its own military AI industry, with Avengers Labs hosting over 5 million annotated battlefield frames, primarily obtained through the Ukrainian-developed DELTA combat system, as reported by the Defense Ministry.

Kyiv has started opening its reserves of battlefield data to partners under controlled arrangements. In August, Ukraine formed an AI partnership with Britain and launched a competition to allow foreign companies to develop AI for drone swarms.