Rakuten to partner with German drone startup Helsing to support delivery to Japan's Ministry of Defense

M&A · PartnershipGeopolitics
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Summary · why it matters

It was learned on the 17th that Rakuten Group will partner with Helsing, a German startup developing military attack drones. Rakuten will serve as Helsing's point of contact in the Japanese market and support delivery of the company's HX-2 drone to the Ministry of Defense. Helsing's drones are remotely operated from land to stop submarines and other threats approaching the coast, and the Ministry of Defense will conduct demonstration tests through the end of September to consider whether to introduce them in the Ground Self-Defense Force. The use and procurement scale are undecided, but depending on the test results, domestic mass production could also be considered. Helsing is based in Munich in southern Germany and has delivered several thousand HX-2 drones to Ukraine, but it has little track record in Japan, so Rakuten, which has connections with the Ministry of Defense, has effectively become an intermediary. Rakuten already operates a drone business, but it has focused mainly on building exterior wall surveys and inspections and has not handled defense use.

Impact on stocks 1

Digital Finance & Tokenization · 1 stocks
Rakuten Group, Inc.
4755
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

Rakuten partners with Helsing to support drone delivery to Japan's Ministry of Defense, expanding into defense use.

Theme Impact 1

Off-coverage companies 1

Helsing GmbHPrivate▲ Positive
Demandrelevance

Helsing gains market entry in Japan through Rakuten's partnership, with potential for Ministry of Defense adoption.

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