Monday, August 17, 2026
Helsing enlists Rakuten to broker Japan military drone deal
German defense technology company Helsing said Rakuten is helping broker a deal to sell its HX-2 strike drones to Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, serving as the point of contact between Helsing and the Japanese government. Japan's GSDF is field testing the HX-2 through the end of September as Tokyo looks to modernize its military and counter an increasingly assertive China, building on an initial agreement the two sides struck earlier in 2026.