Government and Defense Officials Visit ACSL Exhibit During “Japan Drone 2026” ―ACSL Showcases SOTEN and Next-Generation Small Aerial Photography Drone
- ACSL welcomed government officials and senior Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel to its exhibit at Japan Drone 2026, accompanied by JUIDA.
- ACSL introduced the latest features of SOTEN, currently deployed by the JSDF, as well as its next-generation small aerial photography drone under development.
- With multiple delivery records in the defense sector, including orders from the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), ACSL remains committed to Japanese government procurement and to advancing the social implementation of drones.
ACSL Ltd. (ACSL) welcomed visits from government officials and senior Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel during Japan Drone 2026, held from June 3 to 5, 2026. The visits were conducted under the guidance of the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA), amid growing interest in Japan-made drones, driven by efforts to expand government procurement and concerns over economic security.
At the exhibition booth of Xacti Corporation, ACSL provided product briefings and exchanged views on its domestically developed small aerial photography drone “SOTEN”, as well as a next-generation small aerial photography drone currently under development.
■Overview of the Visit
During the exhibition, the ACSL display was visited by a wide range of government officials, including Members of the House of Representatives Ayano Kunimitsu, Taro Kono, and Akihisa Nagashima, as well as senior officers from JSDF divisions responsible for education, operations, and equipment.
ACSL explaining the next-generation small aerial photography drone (prototype) and SOTEN to Member of the House of Representatives Ayano Kunimitsu
SOTEN has been adopted as official JSDF equipment and has been delivered continuously over the past three years. Following its deployment, ACSL has implemented ongoing improvements and updates based on feedback obtained from actual field operations, resulting in enhanced operability and improved ease of use compared with the initial release.
During the visit, ACSL provided government officials with an overview of SOTEN, including its adoption by the JSDF as a dual-use small aerial photography drone and its operational track record to date. In addition, ACSL introduced specific details regarding new functions and enhancements scheduled for implementation within 2026 to JSDF personnel who are already operating the system.
ACSL also exhibited a development prototype of its next-generation small aerial photography drone and explained improvements in aircraft performance compared with SOTEN, as well as anticipated future use cases.
Visit by Member of the House of Representatives Taro Kono and Akihisa Nagashima
Visit by Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel
ACSL will continue its efforts to develop and support the operation of safe, user-friendly Japan-made drones for government and public-sector applications—where responses to economic security requirements and the assurance of information security are increasingly important—and will further promote the social implementation of drone technologies in Japan.
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