Terra Labo’s Terra Dolphin VTOL Achieves 100 Hours of Flight Testing

Terra Dolphin VTOL: Enhancing Security Operations, Enabling Mass Production and Global Expansion

Next-Generation Multi-Purpose Platform Unmanned Aerial Vehicle “Terra Dolphin VTOL”

Kasugai, Aichi, Japan, September 18, 2025 – Terra Labo Inc. (CEO: Takahide Matsuura) announced that its next-generation vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft, the Terra Dolphin VTOL, has accumulated 100 hours of flight testing.

The company's global team has conducted test flights, confirming stable performance and reliability. This 100-hour milestone complies with Japan’s regulatory requirements for “specified flights,” which include long-range beyond visual line of sight operations and flights above 150 meters.

The tests also validated the aircraft’s durability and reliability, advancing it to Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7)—a benchmark indicating a prototype demonstrated in an operational environment. This achievement marks a significant step toward practical use and broader deployment.

Video: The cumulative 100-hour flight test, which began in December 2024, was successfully completed on September 18, 2025. (Footage from September 18)

The Terra Dolphin VTOL features a lightweight yet high-strength airframe, offering both flexibility and durability. With vertical take-off and landing capability, it can be deployed immediately without the need for a runway, even in urban areas or disaster zones with limited space. Its target range of 1,000 km enables missions such as wide-area disaster assessment and offshore surveillance that conventional unmanned aircraft have struggled to achieve.

The aircraft adopts a Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP) modular design, allowing flexible integration of control systems, communication devices, and observation equipment. This adaptability makes it possible to customize the platform for each mission, supporting a wide range of applications from disaster response and national security to logistics and environmental monitoring.

In 2021, Terra Labo established its mass production facility “Terra Labo Fukushima.” Going forward, the company will advance agile development while conducting flight evaluation tests for quality assurance at the adjacent Fukushima Robot Test Field.

Looking ahead, Terra Labo will focus on mass production at its facility “Terra Labo Fukushima” in Minamisoma, Fukushima, Japan, establishing a system to meet demand both in Japan and overseas. At the same time, the company will expand partnerships with component manufacturers to strengthen its supply chain, ensuring stable delivery and improved quality.

In the fields of disaster management and security, the Terra Dolphin VTOL will be applied to tsunami damage assessments in preparation for a potential Nankai Trough earthquake, as well as to coastal monitoring and offshore surveys, contributing to rapid response in the initial phase of emergencies. Furthermore, through Official Security Assistance (OSA), Terra Labo will support the enhancement of international disaster response and security capabilities.

On the development side, the company will adopt an agile approach that emphasizes dialogue with municipalities, disaster management agencies, and security organizations. By rapidly reflecting on-site needs, Terra Labo will continuously refine the aircraft to ensure it is truly suited for real-world operations.

The Terra Labo Fukushima mass production facility will be further developed to create new employment opportunities in Fukushima Prefecture, supporting regional revitalization and contributing to the long-term recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The same model of the Terra Dolphin VTOL used in the flight tests will be on display at the 4th Drone Summit, to be held on September 24–25, 2025, at Port Messe Nagoya (Aichi, Japan).

Contact for Inquiries

Terra Labo Inc. – Public Relations
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