Rakuten Group appears to have partnered with defense technology company Helsing to support the introduction of Helsing's HX-2 unmanned aircraft in Japan. The GSDF has reportedly been testing HX-2, while Rakuten is expected to handle procurement procedures and coordination with the Japanese side.
Rakuten Group is expected to partner with Germany-based defense technology company Helsing to support the introduction of its unmanned aircraft system in Japan. Reuters reported on 17 August 2026 that the Ground Self-Defense Force was testing Helsing's HX-2.
HX-2 is an electric attack drone with X-shaped main wings and a maximum range of approximately 100 km. It can carry a shaped-charge warhead for attacking armored targets, and is designed to use AI for autonomous target search and re-identification while continuing missions in environments where communications or GNSS are difficult to use. Humans remain involved in important decisions.
Helsing announced in 2025 that it would produce 6,000 HX-2 units for Ukraine. Resilience Factory 1, its production facility in southern Germany, is said to have the capacity to produce more than 1,000 units per month. The system is designed around mass production and mass deployment, meaning that the operational structure must be established alongside the expansion of the fleet.
In this case, Rakuten is not expected to manufacture the aircraft directly. Its central role is likely to be supporting procurement procedures in Japan and coordinating their introduction. It has been pointed out that successfully deploying the system will require the development of operational, transport and command structures alongside the procurement of the aircraft themselves.