FOSSA targets Japan’s defense market as larger smallsats expand capabilities

TAMPA, Fla. — Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is pushing into Japan's defense market after securing a local partner to expand its reach, building on a shift beyond tiny picosatellites used to connect low-power monitoring devices toward more capable spacecraft for broader government applications.

Julián Fernández, FOSSA CEO and cofounder, said the venture has also opened a Tokyo office in its first expansion outside Europe following the distribution agreement with Kanematsu, a conglomerate with a significant presence in Japan's aerospace and defense market.

"Picosatellites are a great platform for low TRL technology demonstration and agile access to space," he said. "FOSSASAT-1 for instance was developed in under 6 months and cost less than $30,000 to build and launch into space.