Can Japan Lead the World in Water Drone Technology?

On October 22, startup Oceanic Constellations and Keihin Dock, a Yokohama-based subsidiary of Nippon Yusen, signed an agreement to collaborate on the mass production of domestically manufactured water drones.

Large-scale production of these drones is virtually unprecedented globally, positioning Japan at the forefront of this emerging sector.

The partners aim to leverage the nation's advanced shipbuilding technology to deploy mass-produced water drones for combating illegal fishing, advancing marine development, and enhancing national security.

Forging Innovation

Founded in 2023, Kamamura-based Oceanic Constellations has been developing domestically produced water drones. In August, the company successfully carried out a nighttime autonomous flight of its prototype Alpha off the coast of Kamakura.

The achievement has reportedly drawn interest from the Maritime Self-Defense Force for its potential security applications.

Meanwhile, Keihin Dock specializes in constructing small vessels such as tugboats. Its groundbreaking ammonia-fueled ship, Sakigake, earned the Special Technical Award at the 2025 Ship of the Year event hosted by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers. Sakigake is the first of its kind in the world.

*At the Ship of the Year Awards Ceremony. Keihin Dock Managing Director Hara (second from left) and Director Hasegawa (sixth from left). (Courtesy of Keihin Dock)*

The two companies will collaborate to accelerate the mass manufacture of water drones and develop a system for integrated operation across multiple units.

Following the agreement, Oceanic Constellations will begin assembling its next prototype, Beta, at Keihin Dock's Koyasu plant, with completion targeted as early as November. Insights gained from this phase will be incorporated into the design of the next mass-production model, Gamma.

Boosting Japan's Maritime Edge

Amid China's expanding maritime ambitions, Chinese vessels have been making increasingly assertive incursions into Japan's exclusive economic zone around the Senkaku Islands and elsewhere.

At the same time, organized illegal fishing continues along Japan's coasts, underscoring the growing need for enhanced monitoring and safeguarding the nation's maritime rights and interests.

*A Chinese Coast Guard vessel with a helicopter taking off near the Senkaku Islands on the afternoon of May 3. (©Japan Coast Guard)*

Keihin Dock President Toshi Nakamura told The Sankei Shimbun, "We hope this partnership will help revitalize Japan's shipbuilding industry and contribute to solving our social challenges."

Takuma Honda, co-head of Oceanic Constellations, added, "Japan has a competitive edge in water drone technology. Along with mass production, we aim to develop strong capabilities in maintenance and operational support."

Towards Mass Manufacturing

Oceanic Constellations aims to achieve the world's first continuous ocean monitoring system using a fleet of surface drones, which relies on advanced technologies such as AI-driven image recognition and swarm-control algorithms, for which the company has already secured multiple patents.

The first Beta model unit is set for completion in November, with plans to eventually produce multiple units. Meanwhile, production of the Gamma mass-production prototype will start at roughly 10 units per month, with output increasing gradually over time.

The latest development also comes as the startup's existing facilities have reached capacity, particularly in terms of repair and maintenance operations.

For Keihin Dock, mass-producing water drones presents an opportunity to introduce more efficient methods into shipbuilding, much like the modular approach in the auto industry.

Closing the Gap

While the United States and China maintain a substantial lead in the use of aerial drones, the gap remains relatively narrow in the maritime domain.

Water drones are being developed for diverse applications, including monitoring illegal fishing and smuggling, observing tsunamis, and bolstering security.

China's maritime expansion has grown more assertive lately, while Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force continues to struggle with persistent personnel shortages.

Water drone operations reduce on-site risks and save a considerable amount of labor. For Japan, a nation deeply rooted in its maritime heritage, leading this technology holds significant strategic importance.

Author: Shinji Ono, The Sankei Shimbun

(Read this in Japanese)