NEXT DELIVERY, Aeronext, and Daiwa House Industry Selected for Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Drone Logistics Service Demonstration Project in Urban Areas

～ Launching Demonstrations Toward Level 4 Operations to Establish a Drone Delivery Model Integrated into Waterfront High-Rise Residential Buildings ～

　A consortium comprising NEXT DELIVERY Inc. (headquarters: Kosuge village, Yamanashi Prefecture; Representative Director: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “NEXT DELIVERY”), its parent company Aeronext Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President & Group CEO: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “Aeronext”), and Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Hirotsugu Otomo; hereinafter “Daiwa House Industry”) is pleased to announce that it has been selected for the waterfront area under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Project to “Project to Accelerate the Social Implementation of Urban Drone Logistics” implemented by the Bureau of Digital Services.
　From FY2026 through FY2027, the consortium will conduct Level 3.5 flight demonstrations and service demonstrations in the Toyosu, Harumi, and Kiba areas, with a view toward Level 4 operations—beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights in populated areas—and the real-world deployment of drone delivery services for high-rise residential buildings.

Background to the Selection

　As Japan faces population decline and an aging society, the logistics sector is confronting increasingly serious challenges, including driver shortages associated with the so-called “2024 Problem,” declining operational efficiency due to smaller, more frequent shipments, and concerns that transportation capacity could fall short by as much as approximately 25% by 2030.
　In urban areas, the redelivery rate for parcels delivered to homes has reached 9.5%, adding to the workload of delivery personnel. High-rise residential buildings present additional structural challenges: delivery personnel spend an average of 225 minutes per building each day on in-building deliveries, approximately 120 minutes of which is spent waiting for elevators and moving between floors.
　To address these challenges, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched the “Project to Accelerate the Social Implementation of Urban Drone Logistics”, which aims to advance drone logistics services toward practical operation. The project is part of the Tokyo 2050 Strategy, specifically Strategy 11, “Digital,” which seeks to realize smart cities that enhance the quality of life of Tokyo residents.
　The consortium’s proposal was evaluated and selected for implementation under this project.

Track Records and Background of the Participating Companies

1. NEXT DELIVERY Inc. / Aeronext Inc.

　NEXT DELIVERY and Aeronext have been at the forefront of advanced drone operations and real-world deployment in urban areas and densely inhabited districts (DIDs) in Japan and overseas.

•Urban Blood Delivery Operations in Mongolia Comparable to Level 4：Drone-based blood delivery services began in Ulaanbaatar in 2022. Through the training and development of local personnel at MSDD, the companies have established regular blood delivery operations using fully automated BVLOS flights in urban areas. As of the end of September 2026, more than 800 flights had been completed cumulatively. The service has become an established medical infrastructure supporting emergency and lifesaving needs in everyday healthcare.

•Japan’s First^*1 Level 3.5 Demonstration on a Route Including a Densely Inhabited District (Wakayama Prefecture) ：In November 2025, the companies successfully demonstrated a regular drone delivery model in Wakayama City on a route that included a densely inhabited district (DID), marking a first in Japan.

•Proven Operational Track Record and High Safety Standards：Through the deployment of SkyHub^TM*2 Smart Logistics, NEXT DELIVERY and Aeronext have accumulated more than 4,500 drone flights in Japan, including over 1,800 Level 3.5 flights, as of the end of September 2026. They have established advanced technologies for the simultaneous remote autonomous operation of multiple drones^*3, together with comprehensive safety management systems.

2. Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (Daiwa House Group)

　The Daiwa House Group operates a broad range of businesses in Japan and overseas, including detached houses, rental housing, condominiums, commercial facilities, logistics facilities, and data centers. Leveraging its integrated capabilities spanning development, construction, management, and operations, the Group has worked to address social challenges, revitalize urban areas, and enhance regional value.

•New Drone-Related Business Under Evaluation Through the Daiwa Future100 Corporate Venture Program：The Daiwa House Group actively pursues new business creation beyond the scope of its existing operations, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth and creating new social value. In 2024, it established Daiwa Future100 (DF100), an internal program designed to support the development of new businesses.

　Through its screening and support programs, DF100 evaluates the commercial potential of ideas that can address social challenges and create new value.
　Having passed the program’s screening process, the team behind a new drone-related business currently undergoing commercialization assessment is participating in this project. By leveraging the Daiwa House Group’s expertise in housing, construction, and community development, the team aims to create and deploy drone services that originate from residential buildings and other built environments.　（Daiwa Future 100） 

Project Overview and Implementation Plan

Project name	Real-World Deployment of Drone Delivery Services Integrated into High-Rise Residential Buildings in Tokyo’s Waterfront Area
Implementation period	From the date of selection through March 31, 2028
Target area	Tokyo waterfront area: Toyosu, Harumi, and Kiba
Key Implementation Roadmap	FY2026 — Establishing Flight and Operational Foundations・Validate flight routes using digital twin technology and on-site surveys.・Coordinate with relevant organizations and obtain necessary permits and approvals.・Conduct initial verification flights using one drone and Level 3.5 flight demonstrations.・Define requirements for drones, drone ports, and flight management systems.・Conduct technical verification of multi-drone operations.・Assess social acceptance through promotional activities, including demonstration flights for residents.FY2027 — Service Validation and Business Feasibility Assessment・Conduct regular delivery demonstrations using actual customer orders and parcels on routes established in FY2026.・Verify simultaneous operation of up to five drones within the same area.・Evaluate revenue models and commercial viability.・Develop operational procedures for disaster situations.
Roles of Each Company	NEXT DELIVERY — Project Implementation Lead：Overall project management; remote flight operations and operational oversight; service design; flight route planning; flight planning and safety management.Aeronext Inc.：Provision of drone aircraft and flight operation systems; application of digital twin technology; definition of aircraft requirements.Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.：Management of takeoff and landing areas and designated zones; evaluation of labor-saving approaches to parcel collection; coordination with stakeholders, property management companies, and residents.

Value Proposition and Expected Benefits

1. Residents
Improved privacy and security through contactless parcel receipt, along with reduced burdens associated with shopping and receiving deliveries.

2. Residential Developers and Property Managers
Enhanced competitiveness and added property value through integrated delivery services, without increasing the workload associated with in-building deliveries.

3. Participating Retailers
Expansion into new customer markets and stimulation of local consumption in waterfront areas where conventional ground delivery may have difficulty providing rapid service.

4. Enhanced Disaster Preparedness
Drone delivery can provide an alternative means of transporting essential supplies—including prescription medicines, infant formula, and allergen-safe foods—when waterfront areas become isolated due to bridge damage or other disruptions.

Support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government

　The project will receive support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Digital Services in the following areas.

・Financial support (100% subsidy rate)

FY2026: Up to JPY 30 million
FY2027: Up to JPY 50 million

・Administrative Coordination and Technical Support

　Assistance with coordination involving relevant organizations and government agencies, as well as the provision of flight routes developed using digital twin technology and other methods.

Future Outlook

　Based on the data and results accumulated through this demonstration project, the consortium aims to move toward commercial service deployment and expand the standardized model to other multi-unit residential buildings in Tokyo and other regions.
　As regulatory frameworks and aircraft capabilities evolve, the consortium will also work toward transitioning to Level 4 operations and multi-drone operations, contributing to the development of sustainable aerial infrastructure in urban areas.

【For inquiries from the press regarding this news release】

Aeronext Inc. PR Dept. (Contact: Ito)
Tel: +81-3-6455-0626　Email: aeronext_pr@aeronext.com

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. PR Planning Dept. Tokyo PR Group
Tel: 03-5214-2112

Reference

*1 Japan’s first

Based on the Wakayama City press release (published in November 2025: “Demonstration of a Level 3.5 Drone Regular Delivery Model on Routes Including a Densely Inhabited District (DID)”)

*2 Smart Logistics SkyHub^TM

SkyHub^TM is a logistics system that consolidates shipments from multiple logistics companies in a region at shared logistics hubs known as Drone Depo^TM, then efficiently coordinates deliveries using a combination of ground vehicles and drones.
By optimizing and streamlining regional logistics, SkyHub^TM contributes to the development of sustainable social infrastructure while supporting labor-saving operations and decarbonization. Maintaining sustainable logistics services also helps address regional challenges, including limited access to shopping, healthcare, and emergency transportation during disasters.
SkyHub ^TM has already been deployed in multiple regions across Japan and continues to expand as sustainable regional logistics infrastructure capable of supporting both everyday deliveries and emergency transportation during disasters.。

*3 Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Operation

A technology that enables a single operator to simultaneously monitor and control multiple unmanned vehicles—including drones, autonomous delivery robots, and unmanned surface vessels—from a remote monitoring and control center.

【About Aeronext Inc.】

Guided by its mission, “Creating a world where prosperity reaches every corner through new social infrastructure for the 100-year life era,” Aeronext is pioneering the development of next-generation social infrastructure utilizing low-altitude airspace.
In addition to its technology licensing business and joint development projects centered on its proprietary 4D GRAVITY^TM center-of-gravity control technology, the company operates SkyHub^TM, a New Smart Logistics platform that integrates and optimizes regional logistics, as well as drone operation services through its strategic subsidiary, NEXT DELIVERY Inc. SkyHub^TM has already been deployed in multiple regions across Japan and continues to expand as a sustainable regional logistics infrastructure that supports both everyday logistics and emergency transportation during disasters.
Building on the Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Multi-Drone Operation technologies developed through its logistics business, Aeronext is also advancing the real-world deployment of Physical AI. The company is expanding its AI modules across a wide range of industries—including logistics, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and security—while developing a platform capable of seamlessly integrating and controlling diverse drones and robotic systems.

*Company profile: https://aeronext.com/about/company/

【About NEXT DELIVERY Inc.】

NEXT DELIVERY is Aeronext’s strategic subsidiary established in 2021 in Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, based on the group mission of “Building a new social infrastructure for the 100-year life era, ensuring prosperity reaches every corner of society.” As the core operator of drone delivery, NEXT DELIVERY plans, operates, and expands SkyHub^TM, a new smart logistics platform jointly developed by Aeronext and Seino Holdings that integrates existing logistics with drone delivery.
The company also develops, sells, operates, and maintains hardware and software for combined-ground-and-drone logistics. Starting from Kosuge Village, operations now extend to Kamishihoro Town (Hokkaido), Tsuruga City (Fukui), and other regions to improve logistics efficiency and solve community challenges.

*Company profile: https://aeronext.co.jp/company/

【About Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.】

Since its founding in 1955, Daiwa House Industry has expanded its businesses across a wide range of fields, including detached houses, rental housing, condominiums, commercial facilities, logistics facilities, business facilities, data centers, and environmental energy solutions.
Leveraging the comprehensive capabilities of the Daiwa House Group, the company operates as a “Group that Co-Creates Value for People, Communities, and Lifestyles,” working in Japan and overseas to realize a sustainable society and create new value.

Company Profile: https://www.daiwahouse.com/English/

*Aeronext and the Aeronext logo, NEXT DELIVERY, “Drone Depot”, “4D GRAVITYTM” and “SkyHubTM” are trademarks of Aeronext Inc. 
*Other company and product names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.