Quantum Systems has established a Japanese subsidiary and opened an office in Tokyo as it seeks to expand cooperation with Mitsubishi Chemical and Panasonic on unmanned systems.
The company announced the move during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Japan.
Named Quantum Systems Japan G.K., the new entity will support work with local customers and industrial partners.
Quantum Systems said it has signed memoranda of understanding with both Japanese manufacturers to broaden existing relationships.
The planned cooperation will draw on their manufacturing capabilities and the company’s unmanned systems technology, with an emphasis on developing local industrial capacity and reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Quantum Systems said its work in the country will focus partly on enabling different platforms to operate together and adapting its technology to Japanese operational requirements.
Its offering includes MOSAIC UXS, a software platform designed to coordinate unmanned systems across air, land, and maritime operations.
Chief Revenue Officer Martin Karkour said the company would work with Japanese partners to identify gaps in how these capabilities connect and operate together.
Drones for Japan
The expansion comes as Japan seeks to incorporate more unmanned capabilities into its defense forces.
Earlier this month, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tokyo was arranging delivery of interceptor drones from Ukrainian developer SkyFall as soon as possible.
The Asian country is also investing in domestic production.
In August, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency awarded Tokyo-based Terra Drone a contract to mass-produce its Terra B1 interceptor after it became the only of four evaluated aircraft to qualify for manufacturing.
Rakuten Group partnered with Germany’s Helsing earlier this year to bring AI-powered tactical drones to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Rakuten will help Helsing navigate Japanese procurement procedures, while Tokyo has been testing the company’s HX-2 strike drone in trials scheduled to run through late September.