A Japanese geospatial company has made an investment in a Bulgarian drone manufacturer following high-level defense industry discussions in Brussels. Asia Air Survey, through its corporate venture arm, confirmed it took an undisclosed stake in Dronamics, a Sofia-based startup specializing in cargo drone technology. The move comes days after the first EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue, led by EU Commissioner for Space and Defence Andrius Kubilius. The dialogue focused on strengthening industrial cooperation between the two regions.
Dronamics develops unmanned cargo aircraft designed for middle-mile logistics, targeting routes too short for traditional air freight but too long for trucks. The company’s Black Swan aircraft has a payload of up to 350 kilograms and a range of 2,500 kilometers. Asia Air Survey, a Tokyo-based firm with expertise in aerial mapping and geospatial data, sees potential in integrating Dronamics’ technology into its surveying and logistics operations.
The investment follows last week’s talks in Brussels, where EU and Japanese officials discussed defense industrial collaboration. Andrius Kubilius, the EU commissioner overseeing the initiative, emphasized the importance of partnerships in emerging technologies. Dronamics’ CEO, Svilen Rangelov, stated the funding will accelerate the startup’s global expansion, particularly in Asia and Europe.
Dronamics has previously secured backing from the European Innovation Council and Horizon Europe programs. The company operates test flights in Bulgaria and plans commercial operations by 2026. Asia Air Survey’s involvement signals growing Japanese interest in European deep-tech startups outside traditional automotive or electronics sectors.
Source: eu-startups.com