Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force will field test the HX-2 strike drone from Helsing, and the trials will run till the end of the Sept 2026. Rakuten is helping the German defence technology company navigate Japan’s procurement environment to secure a possible supply contract. The HX-2 is a software-defined all-electric loitering munition which could be used to attack artillery, armor, and fixed military targets, has a maximum range of 100 km and a weight of around 12kg; the drone could be configured with multipurpose, anti-tank and anti-structure warheads.
However, its cutting-edge technology is the on-board artificial intelligence; Helsing maintains the drone’s search-reacquisition capability without a persistent data link, allowing it to operate under a jammed satellite navigational and communication system, but critical engagement decisions still rest with man. In addition, HX-2 will integrate with Altra software, which is a reconnaissance-strike system, enabling remotely piloted aircraft (RPVs), reconnaissance, and cooperation with one another. OTA software updates enable the software to meet evolving threats. Thus, it is concluded that Japanese trials reflect the increasing need for a mass-produced UAV in a high electronic warfare domain.
