Japanese drone maker doubles down on Ukraine as Tokyo eases arms rules

Prefer on Google by Dominic Culverwell Ukrainian servicemen of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine prepare to launch a fixed-wing drone interceptor to engage enemy targets in the Donetsk region on Jan. 22, 2026. (Tetiana Dzhafarova / AFP via Getty Images) Japanese drone firm Terra Drone has announced a second major investment in a Ukrainian defense tech company, as Japan increases support for its defense sector. During a presentation in Japan on April 28, CEO Toru Tokushige announced a partnership with Ukrainian firm WinnyLab to scale the Terra A2, a long-range fixed-wing interceptor drone. The investment comes a week after Japan lifted a ban on weapons exports put in place following the Second World War. Following the historic move, Japanese producers can now send arms to 17 countries approved by Tokyo. Tensions in the region with China and North Korea have heightened in recent years, leading Japan to raise its defense budget to record levels this year. Terra Drone — a Tokyo listed firm — became the first Japanese company to break into the Ukrainian defense market last month by investing in Kharkiv-based Amazing Drones to produce and scale the Terra A1, a short-range rocket-type interceptor drone. "The easing of export restrictions is expected to accelerate Terra Drone’s projects in Ukraine as well as our future global expansion," Tokushige told the Kyiv Independent in a written comment on April 29.