October 14, 2025

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. (Head Office: Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture; President and Chief Executive Officer: Tatsuyuki Isogawa) is pleased to announce the successful maiden flight of its independently developed Experimental Unmanned / Utility aircraft - Marine type, the “XU-M II(Experimental Unmanned/Utility Aircraft – Marine Type),” which took place on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

The flight test was conducted off the coast near the Konan Plant of the Aircraft Division. The twin-hull flying boat performed remote-controlled takeoff and landing operations on sea water, with the objective of validating its fundamental performance characteristics

This aircraft is being developed as part of the research initiative titled “Construction of Ocean Observation, Monitoring, and Survey Systems Using Unmanned Aerial and Marine Vehicles,” which is a component of the K Program sponsored by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The “XU-M II” is a 1/5 scale model designed to gather data and identify technical challenges essential for future full-scale development.

Building upon the insights gained from the initial flight of the “XU-M” in September 2022, the “XU-M II” incorporates structural optimizations and weight reductions. The flight control system and other onboard components have been redesigned to improve safety and scalability. In alignment with the K Program’s objectives, the aircraft is engineered to accommodate payloads mounted at the center of the main wing and mission-specific equipment within the fuselage, thereby supporting a broad range of operational missions.

Looking ahead, ShinMaywa plans to integrate an autopilot system based on the OPV (Optionally Piloted Vehicle) test flight of the research aircraft “XU-L,” conducted in March 2025. The company will continue to expand the operational envelope, —including wind and wave conditions—and collect data to support the development of a full-scale Experimental Unmanned / Utility aircraft - Marine type demonstrator for the K Program