Japanese startup to launch drones in Kazakhstan

A Japanese technology startup Aeronext has showcased its drone delivery solutions in Astana, proposing that Kazakhstan become its next major market following successful implementations in Mongolia and Vietnam, El.kz reports.

What is Aeronext

Founded in 2017 in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, Aeronext’s flagship innovation is its "4D GRAVITY" center-of-gravity stabilization technology. To date, the company has filed 653 patent applications and completed over 200 flight routes, totaling more than 4,000 flight logs.

The company’s business model focuses on technology licensing rather than direct hardware sales. Its subsidiary, NEXT DELIVERY implements logistics services based on Aeronext’s intellectual property - a concept the company calls "sky infrastructure."

Mongolia experience: drones replacing ambulances

Aeronext’s most prominent case study is Mongolia, where its drones deliver blood supplies to 15 hospitals. The project solved a critical issue: severe traffic congestion that previously delayed life-saving medical deliveries and forced medical staff to handle transportation manually.

The company is currently training Mongolian pilots and expanding its operations to 20 facilities. The next phase involves autonomous flight, where a single pilot can manage multiple drones simultaneously. Beyond blood supplies, the drones will transport general cargo and provide disaster relief assistance.

The proposal for Kazakhstan

Aeronext has identified specific areas for collaboration in Kazakhstan: logistics optimization and territory monitoring, particularly for large-scale energy and mining operations. This marks a strategic shift from the Mongolian scenario; Kazakhstan is viewed not only as a delivery market but also as a prime site for industrial drone applications.

A secondary objective involves establishing a sustainable technical cooperation model to serve as a springboard for other Central Asian countries. Essentially, Kazakhstan is being positioned as a regional hub for scaling this technology.

Why Now?

Kazakhstan’s vast distances, remote regions, and expanding mining industry present unique challenges. Drone-based monitoring of pipelines and open-pit mines addresses tasks that are currently slow and cost-prohibitive for ground transport.

Having already proven the viability of its model in Mongolia - a country with similar geographical challenges. Aeronext’s proposal for Kazakhstan appears highly pragmatic and ready for implementation.