German drone maker Helsing enlists Rakuten to broker Japan military deal
The Tokyo-based conglomerate is helping Helsing navigate Japan’s opaque procurement system as the HX-2 undergoes field tests through late September.
- On Monday, German drone maker Helsing enlisted Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten to broker a deal for selling its unmanned systems to Japan's Ground Self-Defence Forces.
- Japan is modernizing its military amid rising tensions with China, prompting Tokyo to ease long-standing arms-export rules earlier this year to attract autonomous, software-led kit from foreign companies.
- Helsing's compact HX-2 strike drone is undergoing field trials with Japan's military until late September, following Rakuten's previous work facilitating technology demonstrations for Ukrainian defence firm Swarmer.
- Hideaki Mukai, Chief of Staff to Rakuten's CEO, said encouraging startup participation "presents an important opportunity to strengthen the country's defense capabilities" by navigating complex procurement systems.
- Helsing, which raised $1.8 billion this year, aims to expand beyond Europe, though Japan remains a cautious buyer with a long procurement memory regarding system reliability.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Rakuten Group will collaborate with the German defence technology startup Helsing to provide Japan's Self-Defense Forces with attack drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), Nikkei said. Exclusive material for subscribers. To have full access, access the material link and register.
German drone manufacturer Helsing is working with the Rakuten group to sell its HX-2 to Japan's army. The Japanese armed forces are still testing the combat drone until the end of September.
Europe’s defence-AI champion Helsing is using Rakuten to break into Japan’s arms market
Helsing, the Munich startup that has become Europe’s best-funded defence-AI company, is pushing into Asia, and it has found an unlikely guide. The German firm has enlisted Japan’s Rakuten, a name better known for e-commerce and mobile phones, to help broker the sale of its unmanned systems to Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Forces. At the centre […] This story continues at The Next Web
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