Newcom Group and Aeronext Reach Agreement on Collaboration to Commercialize Drone Logistics Services in Mongolia

Aeronext Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “Aeronext”) and Newcom Group (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; CEO: B.Baatarmunkh) reached an agreement on Monday, November 13, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to collaborate on the commercialization of drone logistics services in Mongolia. The two companies will accelerate their discussions with a view to forming a joint venture in the future.

At the New Smart Logistics Symposium held in Ulaanbaatar in September this year, the two parties announced the launch of a project to study the feasibility of social implementation of the New Smart Logistics*1 SkyHub™*2, and a drone delivery network in Mongolia, and that as members of the Mongolia New Smart Logistics Promotion Working Group*3, the parties successfully conducted a demonstration experiment of drone blood transportation between the National Center for Transfusion Medicine and the Mongolia-Japan Hospital of Mongol National University of Medical Science in Ulaanbaatar as a round-trip flight of approximately 9.5 km in total on that same day on Monday, November 13.

The flight was the world’s first*4 automatic flight over a third party, which falls under the Japanese term of “Level 4 (BVLOS、Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight in a manned area),” under the harsh environment of the extremely cold outside temperature of -15°C in Ulaanbaatar, located at an altitude of 1,300 m.

This is the first flight in Mongolia for transportation and delivery applications to be officially approved by MCAA.

Sharing mutual principles and ideas, the two companies will consider collaboration to promote the new smart logistics SkyHubTM and expand business in Mongolia, while effectively utilizing their respective resources and know-how to commercialize the drone logistics business in the country.

Purpose of Agreement

The objective is to commercialize a drone logistics business in Mongolia that utilizes Aeronext’s proprietary logistics system SkyHub™, which focuses on drone logistics, and to promote SkyHub™ and expand this business with Aeronext providing the necessary technology and services for this business.

Roles of each party

１．Newcom Group

• Consultation and coordination with necessary government agencies regarding commercialization of this Project
• Operate this project under the name SkyHub™

２．Aeronext

• Contributing technology and services to a joint venture

３．Joint Role

• Developing an ideal logistics system in Mongolia
• Developing a commercialization plan for this Project in Mongolia

（Reference）

*1 New Smart Logistics
A public-private initiative to find solutions to the issues commonly faced by the logistics industry, such as labor shortages, environmental and energy issues, and DX areas, while utilizing digital and technology to ensure the future sustainability of logistics, which is an indispensable infrastructure for people’s daily lives. The project aims to realize the last mile joint delivery, the best mix of land and air transportation, freight and passenger consolidation, automated technology, etc., through co-creation based on an open public platform (O.P.P.) that transcends the boundaries between the industry and the outside world.

*2 New Logistics SkyHub™
A new smart logistics platform jointly developed and deployed by Aeronext and Seino HD that connects existing land transportation and drone logistics, as well as connecting ground and air infrastructure to deliver goods anytime, anywhere. An open and standardized platform with built-in drone delivery, operating from Drone Depots™ and using cars and drones as delivery vehicles, and SkyHub™ TMS as the base for SkyHub™ Delivery (shopping service), SkyHubTM Eats (food delivery), SkyHubTM Medical (pharmaceutical delivery), as well as joint delivery of packages from different logistics companies in bulk, to develop and provide services tailored to local issues and needs. The introduction of SkyHub™ not only has the logistics benefits of promoting unmanned and inventory-free operations and improving last mile delivery efficiency, but also introduces a new logistics infrastructure. Where the logistics industry facing the “2024 Logistics Problem,” SkyHubTM will contribute to solving social issues in the region, such as transportation problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, SkyHubTM will also contribute to address regional issues such as traffic problems in specific depopulated areas, medical problems, disaster countermeasures, and measures for the vulnerable in logistics, as well as raise the level of satisfaction of residents and communities by improving convenience and quality of life.

*3 Mongolia New Smart Logistics Promotion Working Group
A working group of 10 Mongolian and Japanese organizations and businesses was established at the New Smart Logistics Symposium held in Ulaanbaatar on September 28 this year to study the possibility of building a drone delivery network in Mongolia and the societal implementation of drone delivery using SkyHub™, a new smart logistics system. Participating organizations are: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Newcom Group, National Center for Transfusion Medicine, Mobicom Corporation LLC, Mongolia-Japan Hospital of Mongolian National University of Medical Science, Tok Tok LLC, Aeronext Inc., ACSL Ltd., KDDI SmartDrone Inc., and Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.

*4 Based on an Internet survey conducted by Aeronext (as of the end of October 2023)

*5 Dedicated Logistics Drone AirTruck
AirTruck, the first mass-produced logistics drone developed in Japan by Aeronext, a next-generation drone technology startup, in collaboration with ACSL, achieves stable flight with Aeronext’s proprietary 4D GRAVITY™*6 airframe structure design technology. The AirTruck is a dedicated logistics drone that goes “faster, farther, and is more stable” with enhanced for logistics, specialized for forward motion, and aerodynamic characteristics required for long-distance flight. It has a top-class flight record in Japan, having flown in implementation areas and demonstration tests in various regions of Japan.

*6 Airframe structural design technology 4D GRAVITY™
Airframe structure design technology developed by Aeronext optimizes aerodynamic characteristics by equalizing motor speed regardless of attitude, condition, or movement during flight and controlling lift, drag, and fuselage center of gravity based on fuselage shape and structure to improve the basic performance of industrial drones, such as stability, efficiency, and mobility, and the transportation performance of drones dedicated to logistics. Aeronext has patented this technology and manages it as part of the 4D GRAVITY™ patent portfolio. 4D GRAVITY™ improves basic performance and opens up new markets and applications for industrial drones.

【About Aeronext Inc.】
Aeronext, an IP driven R & D technology startup for next-generation drones, is a company that designs the sky through technology to create a world where the sky becomes a social infrastructure, is economized, and solves social issues through drones. Our core technology is 4D GRAVITY™, a unique structural design technology that improves basic drone performance such as stability, efficiency, and mobility of industrial drones by optimizing the center of gravity of the aircraft. In order implement this 4D GRAVITY™ as standard equipment on industrial drones, we have constructed a strong patent portfolio and are promoting a partnership-based platform business for the 4D GRAVITY™ license globally. Aeronext has also founded a subsidiary to implement the SkyHubTM smart logistics and pursue drone delivery.
*For more information: https://aeronext.com/company/

【About Newcom Group 】
Newcom Group is Mongolia’s leading investment firm with over 30 years of track record of pioneering change across multiple industries and has a diverse portfolio of investments across telecommunication, aviation, renewable energy, real estate and mining services sectors.
*For more information: https://www.newcom.mn/

*Aeronext, the Aeronext logo, as well as “4D GRAVITY™“ “SkyHub™“ “Drone Depot™” “Drone Stand™” are trademarks of Aeronext Inc.
*Other company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.