Key facts
- Rakuten Group will collaborate with German defense technology startup Helsing.
- The partnership aims to supply AI-powered attack drones to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
- The collaboration may lead to the domestic production of autonomous equipment in Japan.
- Rakuten seeks to leverage startup support for significant revenue generation.
Rakuten Group is forging a collaboration with German defense technology startup Helsing, with the objective of introducing AI-powered attack drones to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. This strategic partnership, as learned by Nikkei, signals Rakuten's ambition to transform its support for startups into a substantial revenue stream within the defense sector.
The agreement could potentially extend to the domestic production of autonomous equipment in Japan, aligning with the nation's growing interest in advanced defense technologies. Rakuten's move into this space is further contextualized by broader trends of Japanese startups increasingly focusing on defense drones and the government's consideration of AI systems from companies like Palantir and Anduril for its defense forces.