Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenichi Hori; hereinafter "Mitsui") has invested in Armada Systems Inc. ("Armada"), a U.S.-based company that supports AI deployment at industrial sites, including oil and gas fields, through its proprietary infrastructure.

Armada's systems enable diverse data generated at industrial sites to be processed rapidly and reliably by AI close to the point of data generation, thereby enhancing operational automation, remote operations, and predictive maintenance, and contributing to improved project competitiveness.

In recent years, AI applications have expanded from model training to inference, where AI is increasingly used to support flexible and safe decision-making and control in real-world environments. In industrial sectors such as energy and resource development, manufacturing, and logistics, demand is growing for real-time data collection from IoT devices, including sensors and cameras, and for the application of AI to optimize operations, advance autonomy, and improve safety. At the same time, on-site AI implementation continues to face multiple challenges, including ensuring communication and operational continuity under harsh conditions, maintaining high security standards, optimizing allocation of AI processing capacity, and centrally managing a wide range of devices.

To address these challenges, Armada provides integrated hardware and software infrastructure that enables the cross-functional integration and control of diverse on-site elements within the field environment itself. Its hardware consists of compact containerized modular data centers installed in close proximity to industrial sites, designed for high durability and maintenance-free operation under severe conditions, including extreme temperatures. Its software includes a connectivity platform that orchestrates data communications across terrestrial and satellite networks, as well as an operations platform that optimizes IoT devices, AI processing resources, and core systems in an integrated manner.

Armada's integrated infrastructure solutions have been deployed by leading customers across industries including oil and gas production, manufacturing, public infrastructure, and mining, enabling the company to accumulate industry-specific operational expertise.

Through this investment, Mitsui aims to deepen its expertise in AI deployment and advancement at industrial sites, while combining Armada's technology with Mitsui's broad industrial foundation and global network to pursue the development of edge data center businesses and related supply chains. Mitsui will also explore opportunities to maximize profitability and enhance the added value of its existing businesses by leveraging Armada's solutions across industrial operations requiring real-time AI capabilities, including metals and energy sites.

Under its Medium-term Management Plan 2029, Mitsui has identified the "3 Evolved Key Strategic Initiatives" as core growth pillars and is accelerating the integration of data and AI across diverse operational sites worldwide. Our engagement with Armada is fully aligned with this policy. In this initiative, Mitsui's newly established AI Strategy Unit will serve as the central coordinator, promoting collaboration across business units. Through these efforts, Mitsui aims to contribute to AI-driven business transformation across industries and the creation of sustainable value through digital transformation.

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