Rakuten has confirmed it is assisting German defense tech company Helsing in pitching its HX-2 strike drone to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Field evaluations of the drone by the Japanese military are currently underway and scheduled to continue through the end of September 2026.
Helsing stated that it reached an initial agreement with Japanese authorities earlier in 2026 through a local partner. The HX-2 is an electrically propelled x-wing loitering munition weighing 12 kilograms with a range of up to 100 kilometers. Japan is expected to decide on potential procurement after evaluating trial results.
Hideaki Mukai, chief of staff to Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, told Reuters that defense startups face structural procurement barriers and lengthy acquisition cycles. Mukai noted that Rakuten intends to leverage its network to connect technology companies with Japanese defense requirements.
