Terra Drone Selected for Japan's ATLA Rapid Procurement Program for Interceptor Drones

Tokyo, July 15, 2026 — Terra Drone Corporation, a Japanese leader in drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology, has announced that its interceptor drone has been selected by Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) for verification testing under the "Rapid Procurement Program for Interceptor Drones." Testing is scheduled to commence in July 2026.

Program Background

ATLA received proposals from 38 companies and, following a comparative review, selected Terra Drone's interceptor drone as one of the systems designated for verification testing. The program is designed to complete the process from initial procurement to demonstration testing within approximately three months. If a system is assessed as suitable for actual operational use, ATLA will move swiftly toward mass production procurement and delivery.

The verification phase will comprehensively evaluate flight performance, autonomous capability, ship-based operability, and communications and command-and-control (C2) capability, with potential Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operational requirements as the baseline.

The program explicitly requires that interceptor drones be manufactured in Japan, with a well-established domestic production infrastructure. As demonstrated by the war in Ukraine, interceptor drones can be consumed in large quantities during combat operations, making domestic mass production capability essential for ensuring a stable supply.

Demand Driven by Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East

In recent years, long-range one-way attack drones (commonly known as "kamikaze drones"), including the Shahed series, have been deployed at scale in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. These developments have highlighted the limitations of relying solely on costly conventional interceptor missiles to counter such threats over the long term.

As a result, interceptor drones — capable of rapid deployment and relatively low-cost mass production — are receiving growing attention as a new layer of air defense.

The drone threat in Japan's surrounding security environment is also escalating rapidly:

• China continues to intensify drone activity near Japanese territorial waters. In fiscal year 2024, WL-10 and GJ-2 reconnaissance/attack drones were observed for the first time during surveillance activities in Japanese airspace.
• Russia is mass-producing and deploying the Geran-2 (based on the Iranian Shahed design), while China is also reportedly advancing mass production and deployment of one-way attack drones, including the "Sunflower" series.
• North Korea has announced plans to establish a mass production system for one-way attack drones.

These developments have made new defense countermeasures premised on large-scale drone threats a direct and immediate security concern for the Asia-Pacific region.

On June 5, 2026, ATLA formally launched the Rapid Procurement Program for Interceptor Drones, specifically targeting long-range one-way attack drones such as the Shahed series, and assessing the feasibility of using interceptor drones to strengthen protection of JSDF garrisons, bases, vessels, and related facilities.

Terra Drone's Selection: Background and Strengths

The Terra Drone Group has announced plans to incorporate two Ukrainian interceptor drone companies as consolidated subsidiaries. These companies have accumulated extensive experience in the development and real-world operational deployment of defensive interception technology in modern warfare.

Group companies have continuously developed and operated interceptor drones under live combat conditions, building a track record that includes successful interceptions of Shahed-series drones. (Note: In spring 2026, the Terra A1 developed by Amazing Drones and the Terra A2 developed by WinnyLab both successfully completed interception missions.)

Building on the Group's overall operational record, Terra Drone's submitted proposal covers not only the interceptor drone's functions and performance, but also a comprehensive post-delivery framework for rapid supply, maintenance, logistics support, and training.

The verification testing will comprehensively assess the following capabilities:

• Basic flight performance including range, speed, and guidance
• Ship-based operability
• Autonomous flight capability
• Detection and tracking of long-range one-way attack drones
• Multi-drone coordinated operations
• Fail-safe behavior during communications blackouts

The testing will also evaluate the operational support infrastructure required for sustained JMSDF use, including maintenance, logistics support, and training.

A Significant Milestone

Being selected approximately four months after Terra Drone's full entry into the defense sector represents a significant milestone. The company regards this selection as reflecting not only the capabilities of the interceptor drone itself, but also its corporate foundation for sustained domestic mass production and stable supply — factors that closely align with Japan's urgent need to strengthen its defense capabilities.

Terra Drone is actively preparing test aircraft and an operational framework for the July 2026 verification tests, while simultaneously reinforcing production capacity and support capabilities in logistics, maintenance, and training, with the aim of transitioning swiftly to mass production procurement following the verification phase.

Terra Drone will combine the operational expertise accumulated by its Group companies under live combat conditions in Ukraine with its domestic supply and regulatory compliance capabilities as a Japanese company, contributing to the enhancement of Japan's air defense capabilities while expanding its defense business portfolio.

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Defense Business Contact Information

• Business Website: https://terra-defense.com/
• Contact Form: https://terra-defense.com/contact/
• Terra Drone Corporation Defense Division — Morita
• Email: defense@terra-drone.co.jp
• Phone: 080-4329-7881

About Terra Drone Corporation

Headquartered in Japan, Terra Drone Corporation is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Operating under the mission to "Unlock 'X' Dimensions," the company pursues cross-domain integration and innovation. It specializes in surveying, inspection, agriculture, and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), serving industries including oil & gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.

The company has completed more than 3,000 projects globally. In July 2023, it acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a leading global UTM platform provider with deployments spanning more than eight countries. Terra Drone listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market on November 29, 2024 (ticker: 278A), and was ranked the world's No. 1 drone service provider in 2024. The company also received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at the "Japan Startup Awards 2025" hosted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Terra Drone has been ranked among the top three industrial drone service providers globally for five consecutive years by Drone Industry Insights, and continues to build the digital infrastructure needed to unlock the full potential of drones and AAM. For more information, visit: http://www.terra-drone.net

Media Contact

Terra Drone Corporation Public Relations Department

• Phone: +81-3-6419-7193
• Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp

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