Tokyo, June 15, 2026 –Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, announces that its group company Unifly (“Unifly”), a leading provider of unmanned traffic management systems (“UTM”) based in Belgium (1), has signed a partnership agreement with MBDA Systems (“MBDA”), one of Europe’s largest defense companies (2), to collaborate on sovereign and modular end-to-end counter-unmanned aerial systems (“C-UAS”) solutions, including a counter-drone platform capable of delivering an end-to-end response to suspicious drones within a designated airspace, from detection and identification to response coordination.
Partnership Overview
Through this partnership, Unifly aims to combine its proven UTM track record across operational environments worldwide with MBDA’s advanced defense systems and expertise to collaborate on sovereign and modular end-to-end C-UAS solutions, including a counter-drone platform capable of delivering an end-to-end response covering ddetection and identification to response coordination.
A counter-drone platform refers to an integrated framework for detecting, identifying, and responding to suspicious drones operating within a designated airspace. Through this initiative, the parties aim to enable the automatic identification of whether an intruding drone is a legitimately operated aircraft or a hostile threat, and to support rapid and efficient response.
Figure 1: End-to-End C-UAS Platform
Figure 2: Joint Booth with MBDA at One of Europe’s Largest Defense Exhibitions
Background
In Europe, NATO member states have adopted a policy of allocating 5% of GDP to defense-related spending by 2035, with up to 1.5% of that amount expected to be directed toward defense- and security-related areas, including the development and protection of critical infrastructure such as ports, power plants, and airports. (3)
Amid growing concern over unauthorized or malicious drone activity targeting critical infrastructure, C-UAS solutions are becoming increasingly important not only on the battlefield, but also as part of the broader defense and security infrastructure supporting the security of energy facilities, ports, airports, telecommunications infrastructure, and other vital assets in peacetime.
In addition, to address drone-related security risks in peacetime, it is important not only to have C-UAS capabilities for detection and identification to response coordination, but also to have a mechanism that can determine whether a detected drone is operating legitimately. If a detected drone cannot be cross-checked and identified in real time based on its aircraft and operational information, it may lead to inappropriate responses or delays in action. For this reason, integration with UTM, which manages the operational information of authorized drones, is becoming increasingly important.
Against this backdrop, governments and related organizations are increasingly seeking reliable solutions that can detect, identify, and respond to incoming threats while also integrating with UTM.
Future Outlook
Going forward, Unifly will work with MBDA to advance concrete joint proposals with Belgium as a starting point, while also pursuing expansion into other regions and driving the expansion of business opportunities in the global market.
In addition, since entering the defense sector in March 2026, Terra Drone has been strengthening its business foundation in the defense domain through strategic investments in Ukrainian interceptor drone companies. Looking ahead to the broader deployment of the rocket-type interceptor drone “Terra A1” and the fixed-wing interceptor drone “Terra A2,” Terra Drone will further enhance the competitiveness of the solutions offered by the Terra Drone Group by exploring opportunities for potential future integration between these platforms and end-to-end C-UAS solutions powered by Unifly’s UTM.
Through partnerships such as this, Unifly and MBDA will continue to strengthen capabilities to address drone threats in security-critical environments, including airports, ports, critical infrastructure, and public events, while the Terra Drone Group also aims to expand its global business footprint in the drone and airspace security domains.
Figure 3: Integration of Unifly’s UTM-Powered C-UAS Platform with Terra Drone’s Interceptor Drones
Editor’s Notes
1 Unifly: Unifly has provided UTM systems to national aviation authorities in nine countries worldwide, including Canada, Belgium, and Spain, and holds the No. 1 market share in this sector.
2 MBDA: MBDA is one of Europe’s largest defense companies, jointly owned by Airbus (France), BAE Systems (United Kingdom), and Leonardo (Italy), and is engaged in the development and provision of missiles and counter-drone platforms.
3 Source: NATO, “Defence expenditures and NATO’s 5% commitment” (Updated: 10 April 2026)
Representatives’ Comments
Andres Van Swalm, CEO, Unifly
“This partnership demonstrates how Flemish and Belgian technology expertise can contribute not only to the civilian drone industry, but also to defence applications where secure and coordinated airspace management is becoming increasingly important. With our UAS Traffic Management platform, Unifly brings a critical capability to the C-UAS challenge. Together with strong partners such as MBDA, who recognise our vision and expertise, we can showcase a joint proposition in Belgium and demonstrate its potential to scale internationally.”
Eric Béranger, CEO, MBDA
“MBDA is pleased to partner with Unifly to explore new opportunities in Counter-UAS. As the sole European company offering a full spectrum of sovereign Air Defence systems, MBDA has developed a multilayered portfolio, from anti-drone with SKY WARDEN system, to the most high-end threats. Together, we aim at combining our complementary expertise to face increasingly complex aerial threats, thus protecting Belgium skies and beyond.”
About MBDA
MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a global leader in complex weapon systems, playing a key role in the protection of nations. Established in the spirit of international co-operation, MBDA and its 20,000+ employees work together to support the sovereignty of its nations, and allied countries worldwide. As an accelerator of innovation, MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and manufacturing complex weapons to meet all current and future operational requirements of all three of the armed forces (land, sea and air). MBDA is owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%). For more information: www.mbda-systems.com
About Unifly NV
Unifly is a leading aviation tech company dedicated to enhancing the safety and efficiency of autonomous aviation with cutting-edge technology. The Unifly platform acts as a crucial bridge within the UAS ecosystem, enabling the safe and secure integration of next-generation aircraft into the airspace. By digitizing and automating traffic management and integrating seamlessly with drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Unifly addresses the exponential growth in air traffic expected in the coming decades. The company has a proven track record of implementing more than ten commercial UTM deployments, establishing it as a world leader in this industry.
For more information, please visit the website at Unifly.aero or contact us at press@unifly.aero.
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone Corporation, headquartered in Japan, is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Dedicated to the mission of “Unlock ‘X’ Dimensions”, the company is committed to creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges—integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Specializing in surveying, inspections, agriculture, and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Terra Drone serves industries such as oil and gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.
With a portfolio of over 3,000 completed projects worldwide, Terra Drone has achieved significant milestones in the drone operations field. In July 2023, the company acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world-leading provider of UTM platform, with deployments in over eight countries, followed by an investment in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies in February 2024, further expanding its capabilities in UTM.Terra Drone was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Stock Code: 278A) on November 29, 2024. It also secured top spot in Global Drone Service Provider Rankings for 2024.
Recognized by Drone Industry Insights as one of the top three industrial drone service providers globally for five consecutive years, Terra Drone aims to build the digital infrastructure necessary to unlock the full potential of drones and AAM solutions. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.terra-drone.net
Media Contact:
PR Team, Terra Drone Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6419-7193
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
