Martinsburg — A European defense technology company will establish its first U.S. advanced manufacturing operation in Berkeley County, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Monday at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.
Helsing, headquartered in Munich and founded in 2021, plans to invest an initial $50 million to build a facility that will manufacture its HX-2 artificial intelligence-enabled strike drone. State and company officials said the operation will create at least 60 high-skilled, full-time jobs with an average salary of $125,000.
What the project means for residents
The plant will position Berkeley County as a location for advanced defense and aerospace manufacturing, state leaders said. Officials highlighted the investment as part of West Virginia's broader push to attract companies in robotics, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.
- Company: Helsing (Munich-based defense technology firm)
- Initial investment: $50 million
- Location: Martinsburg, Berkeley County
- Product to be made locally: HX-2 AI-enabled strike drone
- Jobs: at least 60 full-time positions, average salary $125,000
Jennifer McArdle, U.S. general manager for Helsing Inc., said the company aims to pair AI and software-defined capabilities with U.S. industrial capacity. She framed the effort in terms of deterrence and national defense.
"To put it simply, and I think we all know this: factories win wars, and that's exactly what we want to do in Berkeley County," McArdle said. "We're going to be developing our HX-2 strike drone that you see right there. You definitely don't want to mess with this thing."
Gov. Morrisey described the announcement as a development that will "help continue to change the direct the trajectory of our state," calling Helsing "one of the world's fastest growing defense technology companies." The governor spoke at an event where a model drone was displayed suspended from the ceiling.
Production and specialization
The company said the Martinsburg operation will initially manufacture the HX-2. In remarks at the announcement, company representatives indicated a high production tempo; the presentation referenced a target of producing up to 2,000 drones per month in Berkeley County.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial capital investment | $50 million |
| Estimated full-time jobs | At least 60 |
| Average salary | $125,000 |
| Manufactured product | HX-2 AI-enabled strike drone |
Company and state officials framed the investment as reinforcing U.S. and allied defense capabilities through both technology and domestic production. Helsing describes itself as focused on software and hardware that provide real-time battlefield intelligence to protect democracies.
Local context and next steps
The announcement builds on West Virginia's recent efforts to attract aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing firms. Officials did not provide an exact timeline for facility construction or the start of production at Monday's event. Details about site preparation, permitting, workforce recruitment and any state incentives were not disclosed in the announcement.
Residents and prospective job seekers seeking more information should monitor state economic development releases and local workforce resources for hiring timelines and training opportunities tied to the project.
This article is based on remarks made by Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Jennifer McArdle at an event in Martinsburg and on information released by Helsing.
