Helsing to bring $50 million defense manufacturing facility to Berkeley County
Dr. Jennifer McCardle, general manager of Helsing's Berkeley County operation, presented Gov. Patrick Morrisey with a replica of one of the drones the company will manufacture. (Photo by Toni Milbourne)
MARTINSBURG — Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that Berkeley County will be home to a new advanced defense manufacturing operation on Monday. European defense technology company Helsing plans to invest $50 million in a Martinsburg facility. The project is expected to create at least 60 full-time jobs, the governor said, with average salaries of approximately $125,000, making it one of the highest-paying manufacturing announcements in the Eastern Panhandle in recent years. The company plans to manufacture its HX-2 artificial intelligence-enabled strike drone at the facility, expanding the region’s growing aerospace and defense manufacturing sector. Jennifer McArdle, Helsing’s U.S. general manager, said that 2,000 drones a month would be produced in Berkeley County at the start of the company’s operation. Morrisey shared that Helsing selected West Virginia following a nationwide search that evaluated multiple locations, naming the state’s workforce, transportation network, manufacturing base and available training resources as key factors in the decision. “Welcoming a global defense technology innovator with battlefield-deployed products like Helsing to Berkeley County is another major milestone for West Virginia,” Morrisey, said, adding that the decision to locate in West Virginia is a tremendous vote of confidence. The state worked with the company throughout the site selection process, according to the governor’s office, helping coordinate workforce training, logistics and energy resources. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and West Virginia Advance will develop specialized training programs to prepare employees for advanced manufacturing positions. Helsing, headquartered in Munich, Germany, was founded in 2021 and specializes in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors and software-defined defense technology. The company develops military technology for democratic nations and their allies and has expanded rapidly in Europe in recent years. McArdle said the company’s decision was driven by West Virginia’s manufacturing heritage and its ability to support future growth. “A strong defense industrial base depends on trusted partnerships and the ability to scale advanced manufacturing where it matters most,” McArdle said. “West Virginia stood out for its skilled workforce, speed to build, manufacturing heritage and commitment to strengthening the U.S. industrial base.” Morrisey said the project continues West Virginia’s long-standing role in supporting the nation’s defense industry while creating high-paying career opportunities in the Eastern Panhandle. According to the governor’s office, more than $12.9 billion in private-sector investments representing approximately 13,700 projected jobs have been announced statewide since October. Additional details, including the facility’s location, construction schedule and anticipated production timeline, were not released Monday.