How Terra Drone will invest in Ukraine: focus on drones, tickets from $500,000, and plans for local R&D

Japan’s Terra Drone has become the first Japanese investor in Ukraine’s defence sector. In Kyiv on 31 March 2026, its founder and CEO Toru Tokushige announced a strategic investment in interceptor drone manufacturer Amazing Drones, stating that this move marks only the beginning of the firm’s expansion.

As Defender Media has learned, Terra Drone plans to secure new investment agreements with Ukrainian drone manufacturers over the next six months. The company is seeking partners not only among interceptor developers but also in adjacent segments — primarily among producers of unmanned surface vessels (USVs), FPV drones, and reconnaissance systems. Tokushige estimates the value of each investment at $500,000–$1 million, although some deals may be more substantial.

Simultaneously, Terra Drone is exploring the feasibility of establishing a production site in Poland or another NATO member state as a secure base for scaling manufacturing outside the combat zone. The company is also considering opening an R&D centre in Ukraine and is prepared to deploy its engineers and production managers to align processes with global quality standards.

Terra Drone’s technological objective in Ukraine is to develop an autonomous interceptor amid rapidly intensifying competition. “The industry has collectively realised the critical importance of interceptors. Consequently, we must accelerate our timeline beyond the original projections,” Tokushige remarked.

The company is also in discussions with other defence sector stakeholders, both in Japan and in international markets. Tokushige noted that the primary criterion for cooperation is proven combat performance: “Buyers require a product that works, rather than promises.”

Founded in Tokyo in 2016, Terra Drone employs more than 600 people and operates in the fields of unmanned technologies and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Its core areas of expertise include surveying, inspection, agri-tech, and drone traffic management systems. In 2023, the company acquired a controlling stake in Unifly, a developer of UTM platforms, and in 2024 it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. More than 60% of Terra Drone’s revenue is already generated overseas, supported by subsidiaries across Europe.