Rakuten Group will support the domestic introduction of AI-enabled attack drones for military use through a partnership with German startup Hellings [1, 2].
This move signals a significant shift in the role of Japanese commercial infrastructure in national defense. By integrating Rakuten's communications capabilities with advanced AI weaponry, the project aims to bolster the capabilities of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
The partnership focuses on bringing AI-driven drone technology to the Japanese market, with a specific goal of establishing domestic mass-production [1, 2]. The drones developed by Hellings have already seen operational use in Ukraine [1]. This previous deployment provides a baseline of real-world effectiveness for the technology before it is integrated into Japan's defense framework.
Rakuten Group, which holds an enterprise value of approximately 3 trillion yen [2], intends to leverage its existing communications infrastructure to support these systems. The integration of high-speed connectivity is viewed as critical for the operation of AI-enabled military hardware.
Reports said a field-test of the technology is scheduled to be completed by the end of next month [1]. The results of these trials will likely determine the scale and speed of the subsequent mass-production phase within Japan [1, 2].
The collaboration marks a strategic alignment between a major Japanese tech entity and a European defense startup. While Rakuten is primarily known for e-commerce and mobile services, this venture expands its footprint into the defense sector, a move that aligns with broader trends in Japanese security procurement.
“Rakuten Group will support the domestic introduction of AI-enabled attack drones for military use.”
This partnership reflects Japan's evolving defense strategy, which increasingly emphasizes the integration of private-sector technology and artificial intelligence to modernize its military. By partnering with a firm whose technology is already combat-proven in Ukraine, Japan is accelerating its adoption of autonomous systems. Furthermore, Rakuten's involvement suggests that the future of electronic warfare in the region will rely heavily on the synergy between commercial 5G/6G infrastructure and autonomous weaponry.
