Rakuten, German startup Helsing test military drones for Japan

Rakuten Group is working with defense AI startup Helsing to bring the German company’s military drones to Japan.

The Tokyo-based online shopping mall operator served as the point of contact between Helsing and the Japanese government, according to a Rakuten spokesperson. The country’s Ground Self-Defense Force will conduct field tests of Helsing drones through the end of September, he said, without providing further details. The tie-up, which would be one of Helsing’s first partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, was first reported by the Nikkei.

Japan, which for decades restricted arms exports, has been stepping up defense spending, and the country’s companies have followed suit. E-commerce pioneer Rakuten has shifted some of its focus to the sector: It’s partnered with a Ukrainian government agency to develop defense technologies, while subsidiary Rakuten Mobile has taken part in joint U.S.-Japan military trials of mobile technologies.

Founded in 2021, Munich-based Helsing has gained prominence as a supplier of military software and attack drones following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last month, Goldman Sachs backed Helsing at a valuation of $18 billion.

Helsing’s offerings include the AI strike drone HX-2, which touts software that allows it to seek and identify targets without continuous data connectivity. Helsing has not disclosed military contracts outside of its native Germany, although the startup is active in multiple countries.