Drone manufacturer Terra Drone prepares joint venture with Besomer and unveils Terra C1 reconnaissance drone

With the Terra C1, Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone presented a new drone on 15 June. On the same day, the company announced that preparations had begun for a joint venture with the Ukrainian firm Besomer.

According to the companies, the joint venture is to provide a "multi-layered defence solution" by combining drones for reconnaissance and surveillance with interceptor drones. Terra Drone has already invested in Ukraine in the past; the announced project will be its third joint venture with a Ukrainian company.

Drone manufacturer Terra Drone at a glance

Terra Drone is headquartered in Tokyo. Internationally, the company offers drones and drone flight management systems that have been used since 2016 in the oil, gas, construction and chemical industries as well as in agriculture for surveying and inspection.

The company entered the defence equipment market in March 2026. Since then, it has expanded its product portfolio with the Terra A1 and Terra A2 interceptor drones.

The new joint venture is now intended to shift the defence business more strongly towards reconnaissance and surveillance. The aim is a single-source solution covering the entire process, from detecting a threat to defeating it.

Terra Drone CEO Toru Tokushige explains the choice of Besomer with the partner's expertise: Besomer develops robust, cost-efficient drones that are resilient to electronic jamming and designed for operations in places with limited infrastructure.

Besomer at a glance

Besomer was founded in 2023 and is based in Lviv. The company develops and manufactures fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, interception and logistical support, as well as catapult launchers, ground control systems and power charging modules. The drones are designed above all for sustained operations in harsh conditions; they are quickly ready for use, have long endurance and are easy to maintain.

For Besomer, the joint venture offers the opportunity to open up other regions and fields of application for its systems, drawing on Terra Drone's international network and business development expertise.

Terra A1 for short range

Rapid launch, immediate interception and short-range operations, for example to protect bases: this is what the Terra A1 is designed for. It was developed in a joint venture with Amazing Drones and has been in use in Ukraine since 17 April. As early as 28 April, Terra Drones reported that it had successfully destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle with this drone type and published a video of it.

Terra A2 with catapult launch

The Terra A2, a fixed-wing drone from the joint venture with Winnylab, has been flying in Ukraine since 19 May. Unlike the Terra A1, it is launched from a catapult, and its aerodynamic design has also been improved. It can be integrated into radar systems, monitor larger areas and intercept targets at distances of up to 75 kilometres. According to company information of 15 June, this type succeeded in intercepting a Shahed drone.

Terra C1 for reconnaissance, surveillance and logistics

The latest development is the Terra C1 (cover image), also a fixed-wing drone. It can stay airborne for up to three hours. It has optics with tenfold magnification and can carry payloads of up to four kilograms. This makes it suitable not only for reconnaissance and surveillance but also for logistical tasks.

Terra A1, A2 and C1 compared

• Terra A1: maximum speed 300 km/h, maximum flight time 15 minutes, maximum range 32 kilometres
• Terra A2: maximum speed 310 km/h, maximum flight time 40 minutes, maximum range 75 kilometres
• Terra C1: maximum speed 160 km/h, maximum flight time 180 minutes, maximum range 110 kilometres

Three drone types, one multi-layered system

Under Terra Drone's concept, the three drone types are deployed together in a single, multi-layered and coordinated system. The aim is to detect threats from unmanned aerial vehicles early and, depending on their distance, speed and direction of approach, to decide quickly on suitable countermeasures and carry them out.

The company also intends to enter further European markets. In addition, the product portfolio is to be expanded to include maritime drones.