Aero Development Japan

Aero Development Japan (ADJ), established in July 2018 by Toshinori Tanabe, is focused on developing hybrid power systems for next-generation air mobility. Tanabe, who serves as CEO, leveraged a long career at the Bank of Japan, including a role as the Nagasaki branch manager, before venturing into the manufacturing and academic sectors. His involvement with the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) sparked his initiative to create ADJ. The development is headed by CTO Ota.

The company is engineering ultra-lightweight, high-output gas turbine generators designed to resolve the power limitations of battery-only systems in large drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This core technology addresses the industry-wide challenge of limited flight duration and payload capacity in electric aircraft. Their ADJ Hybrid Power System combines a gas turbine engine with a generator, aiming to enable drones weighing 150kg to carry a 50kg payload and fly for over an hour. The system uses coreless coils to generate significant torque while maintaining a stable voltage supply, a critical factor for long-distance and heavy-duty drone operations. Furthermore, the company is developing engines for small and reusable space rockets, utilizing liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as propellants. ADJ is also committed to sustainability by developing capabilities for its gas turbine generators to run on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and hydrogen.

ADJ operates on a B2B model, targeting drone manufacturers, helicopter companies, logistics firms, construction companies, and government agencies. In addition to selling its hybrid power systems, the company is developing a Drone as a Service (DaaS) business, providing comprehensive drone services using its own advanced aircraft. The company has achieved several milestones, including the successful output testing of its mass-production hybrid power system model in June 2022 and has started accepting pre-orders. ADJ has also secured multiple grants and completed projects for organizations like the Fukushima Prefecture and the Tokyo SME Support Center. A significant achievement was winning the Best of Japan Drone Award in the Advanced Air Mobility Category in June 2022. The company has raised capital through Seed and Series A funding rounds, with investors including F.C.C. Co., Ltd., IDATEN Ventures, and others.

Keywords: hybrid power systems, gas turbine generator, large drones, eVTOL, next-generation air mobility, rocket engines, Drone as a Service, DaaS, aerospace engineering, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen fuel, long-distance drones, heavy-lift drones, T-GTG conceptual design, advanced air mobility, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV, propulsion systems, high-speed rotating machinery, combustion technology, LOX/LNG rocket engines, aerospace R&D, Japanese aerospace