German drone maker to build mini-submarines in Britain

A German defense startup, Helsing, plans to open a £350 million factory in Plymouth, UK, to produce SG-1 Fathom mini-submarine drones. These drones will use AI to detect underwater threats, such as Russian submarines, and can operate in large numbers. The factory is part of a new "national centre of marine autonomy" amid concerns over vulnerable underwater infrastructure.

Helsing, valued at €5 billion, aims to scale up production and has received €600 million in funding. The UK government sees this facility as the first of several "resilience factories." Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the partnership with the defense industry to bolster future capabilities and economic growth.