German drone maker Helsing has enlisted Japanese e-commerce and finance firm Rakuten to help finalize a deal to sell its unmanned systems to Â鶹´«Ã½ defense force, a spokesperson for Rakuten said on Monday.

The Ground Self-Defense Force is currently ?testing Helsing¡¯s HX-2 strike drone, as Tokyo looks to modernize its military and counter ?an increasingly ?assertive China. The field tests will run until the end of ?September, the spokesperson said.

Helsing struck an ¡°initial agreement¡± for the Japanese government to use its systems earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Munich-based company said, adding that the move was made possible ?by an unnamed ¡°local brokerage partner.¡±

The GSDF did not immediately respond to a request for ?comment.

Rakuten¡¯s involvement with Helsing was first reported by the Nikkei newspaper. While the Tokyo-based conglomerate has limited defense experience, it is aiming to help more startups break ?into Â鶹´«Ã½ defense industry.

¡°Encouraging greater ?participation for startups in Â鶹´«Ã½ defense industry presents an important opportunity to strengthen the country¡¯s defense capabilities. Startups often face significant structural barriers, ?including complex procurement systems, difficulties ?communicating with government agencies and challenging procurement cycles,¡± Hideaki Mukai, ?Chief of Staff to Rakuten¡¯s CEO, said in a statement.

¡°Rakuten hopes ?to help ?bridge these gaps by leveraging our experience and capabilities to connect startups and cutting-edge technologies with the needs of government agencies, further driving innovation and development in Â鶹´«Ã½ defense industry.¡±

A military spending splurge by Japan, along with ?its easing of arms-export rules earlier this year, has sparked strong interest from overseas defense firms looking for local partners to break into a potentially lucrative new market. Rakuten helped U.S.-listed Ukrainian drone software maker Swarmer organize a demonstration of its technology for a unit of Â鶹´«Ã½ military earlier this year, ?it was ?previously reported.

The late April test involved using its AI software to coordinate ?a swarm of drones in a seek-and-hit mission in Japan.

Rakuten¡¯s billionaire founder Hiroshi ¡°Mickey¡°?Mikitani has been ?among Â鶹´«Ã½ most vocal supporters of Ukraine, and his firm has also helped other Ukrainian defense firms exhibit their products at arms fairs in Japan.

Founded in 2021, Helsing initially focused on artificial intelligence software designed to help analyze battlefield data before expanding into ?autonomous strike drones, underwater surveillance systems and military aircraft applications. It has secured contracts with European governments and defense companies, while supplying drones for Ukraine backed by German government funding. The Munich-based firm raised $1.8 billion in a funding round in July, cementing its position as the continent¡¯s best-funded defense technology startup.