Cardboard drones: Japan's military turns to Air Kamui's Airkamuy

Cardboard drones are not entirely new. What is remarkable, however, is that Japan, an absolute high-tech nation, is now also using such cardboard drones – the Airkamuy – in its military.

Shinjirō Koizumi, Japan's defence minister in the Takaichi cabinet since 21 October 2025, recently paid a visit to the start-up Air Kamui. In Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, between Tokyo and Osaka, the company produces low-cost drones made of corrugated cardboard. They have been procured by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as aerial targets. A conceivable further role would be to use them as one-way swarms for reconnaissance.

What the cardboard drones can do

The Airkamuy 150 is made from recycled cardboard. It stays airborne for 80 minutes, flying at up to 120 km/h. The drone is delivered in a box and can be assembled without tools in less than five minutes.

今日は段ボール製ドローンで有名なエアカムイの皆さんと意見交換をさせて頂きました。海上自衛隊では既に標的として活用しています。ドローンをはじめとする無人アセットを世界で最も駆使する自衛隊を目指す上で、防衛分野に意欲あるスタートアップの皆さんと連携強化は不可欠です。今日は非常に濃密な… pic.twitter.com/OJwVOpFiBT— 小泉進次郎 (@shinjirokoiz) April 27, 2026

In English, the minister's message reads:

Today I exchanged views with the team at Air Kamui, who are known for their cardboard drones. The Japanese navy already uses them as targets. As we work towards making the Self-Defense Forces the organisation that makes the most intensive use of unmanned systems such as drones worldwide, closer cooperation with ambitious defence start-ups is indispensable. We had very intensive talks today. Thank you very much!— Shinjirō Koizumi

The cardboard drone from Japan is said to cost around 2,000 euros per unit. According to Japanese media, a delivery to Ukraine is also planned.