Quantum Systems Sets Up Japanese Subsidiary

Quantum Systems, the German drone maker, has set up a Japanese subsidiary, Quantum Systems Japan K.K., and opened an office in Tokyo, the company said on 28 October. It announced the move during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Japan, according to its release.

The company also said it has signed memoranda of understanding with Mitsubishi Chemical and Panasonic, building on existing relationships, to deepen industrial cooperation in Japan. It did not say what the agreements cover, what they are worth or how many people the Tokyo office will employ.

What Quantum Systems announced

According to the release, the partnerships “will combine Japanese manufacturing expertise with Quantum Systems’ experience in developing and producing unmanned systems”. The company says the aim is to get closer to Japanese customers, widen industrial cooperation and contribute to “more resilient domestic supply chains”.

It ties the move to demand in Japan. The release says the country’s changing security environment is increasing demand for unmanned systems that can be “deployed, maintained and adapted”, and that building local industrial capacity reduces dependence on overseas supply chains.

“Japan has understood where defence is heading: unmanned systems, rapid innovation and the industrial capacity to deliver at scale,” said co-chief executive Sven Kruck. “Japan’s manufacturing strength and our operational experience are a powerful combination.”

Chief revenue officer Martin Karkour said unmanned systems are becoming “an integral part” of Japan’s future self-defence force structure. He said the challenge “is no longer simply acquiring individual platforms but ensuring that different capabilities can operate together across all domains”. “Our focus is on understanding where these operational gaps exist and working with Japanese partners to address them,” he said. Quantum Systems says its MOSAIC UXS software coordinates unmanned systems across air, land and sea, and that it will adapt its products to Japanese requirements.

The company, based in Gilching near Munich, develops and manufactures drones, ground and maritime robots, sensors and counter-drone systems. It says it has more than 2,000 employees across eight countries. It posted the news on LinkedIn the same day.

Why the partners matter more than the office

A sales office on its own would be routine. The industrial partners are the interesting part. Mitsubishi Chemical is a materials group and Panasonic an electronics and battery maker, and materials, electronics and batteries are all core inputs for small drones. Neither partner has published its own statement, and Quantum Systems has not said what each will supply, so any specific production plan is guesswork for now.

The logic is easier to read. Japan’s government, like those in Europe, wants defence kit that can be built and repaired at home rather than shipped from abroad. A foreign drone company that sources key components locally and can say its systems are partly Japanese-made is in a stronger position to sell. The release says as much when it talks about reducing dependence on overseas supply chains.

It is also a sign of how quickly European drone makers are trying to grow outside Europe. Quantum Systems has been pushing at the high-performance end too, with its Recordhunter demonstrator, which it says hit 777 km/h. Rivals are using procurement routes rather than new offices: Denmark’s Sky-Watch has been picked under a NATO agency framework deal, and Helsing has put a price on its Contra interceptors.

Japan’s civil drone market is moving as well. KDDI and Wing aim to start drone deliveries in Japan in 2027, and Japanese electronics and materials suppliers serve both civil and defence buyers. The first concrete test for Quantum Systems Japan will be a named Japanese customer or a product announced as built with Mitsubishi Chemical or Panasonic parts. Until then, the subsidiary is a foothold rather than a factory.