Japanese startup Terra Drone, a leader in drone-powered infrastructure inspection technology, has announced an expanded partnership with Saudi Aramco to deploy its advanced drones for monitoring the state-owned giant’s oil and gas facilities.
The collaboration follows a signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which Terra Drone will conduct pilot tests on Aramco’s assets from late 2024 through 2025, ahead of full-scale operations expected by 2027.
If finalized, the deal could become Terra Drone’s largest contract to date, leveraging its drone fleet to inspect tanks and oil infrastructure with unprecedented precision, reducing costs and downtime compared to manual methods.
CEO Tokushige Toru highlighted the company’s goal to generate billions of yen in revenue within 3-5 years, backed by a $14 million investment from Aramco’s venture arm, Wa’ed Ventures, in 2023, which enabled it to establish a local subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.
Beyond inspections, Terra Drone is advancing smart drone traffic management systems and agricultural solutions, such as crop-spraying drones. Meanwhile, Aramco currently relies on labor-intensive inspections requiring up to 3 weeks of scaffolding setup, highlighting the potential efficiency gains from automation.
Notably, Terra Drone went public on the Japanese stock exchange in November 2024 despite not yet turning a profit and is active in Middle Eastern projects unrelated to Aramco.
