Japan eyes drone cooperation to detach from China supply chain

Japan eyes drone cooperation to detach from China supply chain

2026-07-28

Japanese drone maker ACSL has been expanding into the defense, logistics, and disaster relief markets in recent years, with its small Soten photography drone already adopted by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. After ridding its supply chain of China-made components, the company is expanding cooperation with Taiwanese manufacturers, as it looks forward to the development of the lucrative AI robotics and drone markets.

Propellers whirling, this is the Soten drone developed by Japanese drone maker ACSL. It uses components from the US and Taiwan, fully avoiding the use of China-made parts.

Kensuke Hayakawa
ACSL representative director and co-CEO
We’re focused on the national defense market, so when delivering our products, we ensure as much as possible that they do not contain any components made in China.

The Soten drone targeting the national defense and information security marketshas already been adopted by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Beyond defense applications, it can also be used for facility inspection, maintenance, and reconnaissance in earthquake disaster zones.

As its products find more applications, ACSL shipped about 1,000 units last year, generating revenue of 2.6 billion yen. Its products have already entered mass production, but the company admits that its biggest challenge moving forward is keeping Chinese manufacturers out of the supply chain.

Kensuke Hayakawa
ACSL representative director and co-CEO
When it comes to our collaboration with Taiwan, we believe that by working with Taiwanese enterprises, Japan and Taiwan can jointly build a supply chain that does not rely on China. We’ve already discussed various possibilities with a number of Taiwanese businesses. They have proposed many solutions and we have presented different requirements. Both sides are actively engaging in negotiations.

James Huang
TAITRA chair
The Japanese market is small compared to China. But as this becomes more true, the more it’s necessary that Japan and Taiwan work together to expand their markets. Besides further strengthening technological cooperation, they can expand together into third-party markets.

This large logistics drone can carry a maximum payload of 4.5kg over a distance of 40km. Through GPS positioning, it can independently route deliveries and emergency supplies.

Akira Amari
Japan Diet caucus for semiconductor policy
First of all, whoever controls semiconductors controls the world. I believe this is now a reality. Secondly, the focal point of semiconductors will shift from design and development to manufacturing capability. I believe this is also gradually becoming a reality.

Looking favorably on Taiwan’s manufacturing strength, Japan aims to team up with Taiwan to seize business opportunities within the non-China supply chain.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#nonredsupplychain #supplychain #drones #ACSL #TaiwanJapan #Soten #defensetech #semiconductors

日本無人機"去中化"! 鎖定國防安全搶科技新商機

2026-07-28

日本無人機上市公司ACSL，近年積極布局國防、物流和救災市場，更研發蒼天無人機打入日本自衛隊，業者全面排除中國製零件，並擴大和台灣廠商合作，看好未來AI機器人和無人機發展，要搶攻全球科技商機。

螺旋槳高速運轉，這台是日本無人機業者ACSL研發的蒼天無人機，部分採用美國與台灣零件，完全不使用中國製零件。

[[ACSL株式會社代表取締役兼共同執行長早川研介]]
“我們鎖定的是國防市場，因此在交付產品時，會盡可能確保裡面，不含中國製零組件”

鎖定國防和資安市場，蒼天無人機已經打入日本自衛隊，除了國防用途，也能應用在設施巡檢、維護，以及地震災區偵查。

隨著應用範圍擴大，ACSL去年出貨約1000架無人機，營收約26億日圓，目前產品已經進入量產階段，不過業者坦言，眼前最大的挑戰，就是建立更完整的非紅供應鏈。

[[ACSL株式會社代表取締役兼共同執行長早川研介]]
“談到與台灣的合作，我們認為透過與台灣企業攜手，可以由日本和台灣共同建立，不依賴中國的供應鏈，目前我們已經和數家台灣企業，討論各種合作的可能性，台灣企業提出許多方案，我們也提出不同需求，雙方正積極進行交流與協商”

[[貿協董事長黃志芳]]
“日本市場和中國大陸相比，規模當然相對較小，但越是如此，台日雙方越需要共同合作，把市場規模做大，雙方除了能進一步強化技術合作，甚至還可以共同開拓第三地市場”

即將量產的大型物流無人機，最多能載重4.5公斤、飛行40公里，透過GPS設定路線，就能自行運送郵件和物資。

[[日本自民黨半導體戰略推進議員聯盟榮譽會長甘利明]]
“第一件事是，掌握半導體的人就能掌握世界，我認為現在這已經成為事實，另一件事是半導體的重心，將會從設計、開發轉移到製造能力，我認為這一點，現在也正逐漸成為現實”

看好台灣製造實力，日本要與台灣攜手搶攻非紅供應鏈商機。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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The zebra crossing marks disappears bang in the middle of the road. In deep disbelief, the local borough warden posted a video about it on social media. But the markings have yet to reappear.

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We’re really sorry for this incident. We will be adding signage this afternoon to let the public know that the traffic management measures in this area will be a bit different.

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