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07/17/2026News Releases

EXEDY Participates in FY2026 Firefighting Drone R&D Project of Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency in Cooperation with Morita Holdings, Japan’s Leading Firefighting Vehicle Manufacturer

EXEDY Corporation hereby announces that we will participate as a research collaborator in a research and development project under the FY2026 Fire and Disaster Prevention Science and Technology Research Promotion Program of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The project is being promoted by Morita Holdings Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Masayoshi Kato; hereinafter “Morita HD”), Japan’s leading firefighting vehicle manufacturer.

This research and development project was selected by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency as a research theme under the program, with Morita HD serving as the lead organization. The project will conduct verification activities with a view toward practical deployment.

Background and Purpose of the Research Collaboration

As disaster situations become increasingly severe and complex, ensuring the safety of firefighters and enabling rapid fire suppression has become urgent social priorities. In particular, drone-based water discharge technology is expected to play an important role in next-generation firefighting operations, especially at fire scenes and elevated locations that are difficult for firefighters to access.

Through this research and development project, we will accelerate the development of practical firefighting drones by conducting joint research with Morita HD, which has extensive achievements and field expertise in the development and operation of firefighting vehicles. By gaining a deeper understanding of the stringent specifications and operational know-how required in harsh firefighting environments through collaboration with Morita HD, and by incorporating these insights into our development processes, we aim to build highly reliable drone platforms.

Verification Results in FY2025 and Future Initiatives

Firefighting activities using drones require highly advanced technical capabilities that differ significantly from ordinary drone operations, including reaction force control during water discharge, changes in weight caused by water discharge, and stable communication stability. In FY2025, the first year of the project, we provided our drone as a demonstration platform and conducted joint water discharge tests using Morita HD’s MMC Series equipped with CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System*). The verification demonstrated the aircraft’s stability during water discharge and its high compatibility with the firefighting system, thereby technically confirming the effectiveness of firefighting tactics using drones.

As the verification results from FY2025 were highly evaluated, it has been decided that the research project promoted by Morita HD will continue in FY2026. Based on the knowledge gained in the first year, we will continue to provide technical cooperation in research and development aimed at the more practical deployment of firefighting drones at actual firefighting sites. We will work to further enhance the reliability and durability required for actual field operations and will contribute our expertise to Morita HD’s efforts to build a technological foundation that supports next-generation firefighting activities.

* Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS):
A system that creates foam by adding a small amount of fire extinguishing agent to water and injecting compressed air into the mixture. By increasing the surface area of the water, the system enables more efficient fire extinguishing.

Research and Development under the Fire and Disaster Prevention Science and Technology Research Promotion Program of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (FY2025 and FY2026)

(For Reference)

The Company has formulated the Long-term Vision that outlines its aspired state for fiscal 2050, reflecting its corporate philosophy (“Creation of fulfillment”) and significant changes in the business environment. In 2024, to realize this Long-term Vision, the Company announced its Mid- to Long-term Strategy and the Mid-Term Management Plan “REVOLUTION 2026,” which consists of business strategy, financial strategy, and ESG strategy. The Company will continue to pursue improvements in corporate value through execution of these strategies, and this initiative is positioned within the framework of the above Mid- to Long-term Strategy.

*Excerpt from EXEDY’s Financial Results For the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 2026*

About Morita Holdings Corporation

Morita Holdings Corporation, headquartered in Osaka, is a comprehensive disaster prevention solutions company specializing in firefighting vehicles and disaster prevention equipment. As Japan’s leading firefighting vehicle manufacturer, the company supports safe and secure lives for people around the world through the development, manufacture, and sale of special-purpose vehicles, including fire pump trucks and ladder trucks.