Dronamics secures Japanese investment to expand drone technology worldwide after successful EU-Japan defense industry discussions

Europe and Japan Strengthen Defence Industry Ties Through Strategic Investment in Drone Technology

A significant move in the defence industry was made last Friday in Brussels with the launch of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue led by EU Commissioner for Space and Defence, Andrius Kubilius. This event marked a pivotal moment for Sofia-based drone scale-up company, Dronamics, as it secured an undisclosed investment from the CVC arm of Asia Air Survey, a prominent Japanese aerial surveying and geospatial company.

The partnership between Dronamics and Asia Air Survey aims to support geospatial applications and facilitate the establishment of a subsidiary in Japan, named Dronamics Japan Holdings Co., Ltd. This collaboration makes Asia Air Survey the first Japanese investor in Dronamics, solidifying their position as a key strategic partner for exploring the deployment of geospatial solutions using Dronamics drones in Japan and beyond.

Svilen Rangelov, co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, expressed his excitement about the strategic investment, highlighting the unrivalled technology of their large, long-endurance drones. He emphasized the potential for these drones to revolutionize cargo, disaster prevention, relief missions, and civil protection in Japan, acknowledging the multibillion-dollar opportunity that the Japanese market presents.

The investment in Dronamics reflects the accelerating global interest in European drone innovation, particularly in defence, logistics, and geospatial applications. This trend is further exemplified by recent funding rounds within the sector, such as AirHub securing €4.4 million in Series A funding and Danish Shotling raising €700k in pre-Seed funding.

The growing focus on autonomy, technological sovereignty, and industrial self-sufficiency within Europe’s drone and DefenceTech ecosystem aligns with the objectives of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue. This underscores the region’s increasing role in shaping the future of advanced, sovereign drone technologies.

Shingo Urakawa, a Board member of Asia Air Survey, commended Dronamics for the opportunity to invest in the company, citing Asia Air Survey’s expertise in delivering geospatial information services globally. The collaboration between the two companies holds significant potential for developing new services and fostering joint growth.

Dronamics, founded in 2014, is an aerospace company specializing in designing, building, and operating unmanned aerial systems for logistics, civil protection, and defence. Their flagship drone, the Black Swan, is engineered for low-cost, long-range autonomous missions, boasting a cargo capacity of 350 kg and a range of 2,500km, making it Europe’s most versatile drone of its size.

The incorporation of Dronamics’ UAS by Asia Air Survey aims to enhance their geospatial offerings, particularly in disaster prevention and management, environmental consulting, forestry, city planning, and environmental impact assessment.

The EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue emphasizes the shared priority of strengthening the defence industrial base, with Japan signaling readiness to support drone procurement. Dronamics sees itself well-positioned to advance these objectives with the Black Swan being the only MALE (mid-altitude long-endurance) drone manufactured in Europe.

In conclusion, the partnership between Dronamics and Asia Air Survey signifies a significant step towards advancing drone technology for geospatial applications and defence purposes, bridging the gap between Europe and Japan in the realm of unmanned aerial systems.