Japan’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with the Ukrainian company SkyFall to purchase interceptor drones. This was stated by Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
At the same time, the official did not specify which particular drones the purchase covered.
“The Ministry of Defence has already signed a contract with the Ukrainian company SkyFall to acquire interceptor drones and is working to deliver them as quickly as possible,” he noted.
Koizumi added that, in addition to the drones themselves, Tokyo is counting on co-operation with SkyFall not only on interceptors but also on new ways of conducting warfare. According to the minister, Ukraine has accumulated more experience than anyone else in the world and is constantly improving its combat capability.
Separately, the minister highlighted the rapid feedback cycle that enables Ukrainian manufacturers to quickly refine equipment in line with frontline needs. He said drones with improved performance appear every two to three weeks.
Koizumi stressed that this approach could be useful for developing Japan’s defence industry and strengthening the country’s industrial base. In his view, Japan has much to learn from Ukraine about organising production and rapidly implementing technological changes.
“In any case, such deterrence and response capabilities are necessary for our country. We will examine these issues carefully, looking at specific examples,” the minister added.
SkyFall is a Ukrainian defence technology company that develops and mass-produces unmanned systems, including the heavy Vampire bomber drone, Shrike FPV drones and P1-SUN interceptor drones, as well as communications systems and other components. SkyFall has its own R&D centre, production lines and an academy for training specialists, and in 2026 it signed a memorandum on a strategic partnership with Airbus Defence and Space.