Nikkei Asia
June 3, 2022

Japan to develop combat drones to assist jet fighters
Tokyo eyes deployment of homemade aircraft in 2035 with U.S. help

Japan plans to develop unmanned aircraft that will fly in support of fighter aircraft, as the government aims to strengthen the defense of its airspace…Nikkei has learned. The drones will be jointly developed with the U.S. to allow the two allies to operate more closely together.

The drones will be tasked with early detection of enemy aircraft and missiles. The government is also considering equipping the drones with missiles….

The government aims to develop a prototype air combat drone by fiscal 2025, and actual drones from fiscal 2026 onward. It has set a target of fiscal 2035 for deployment of the new aircraft.

Drones have been touted as a game-changer that changed the style of combat in Ukraine, as Kyiv’s military has used drones to attack Russian ships taking part in the invasion.

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The drones will be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and fly autonomously in front of fighter aircraft. The drones will receive instructions from pilots or a remote command center and fly based on the AI’s assessment of the terrain and weather conditions.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces already possess drones, such as the U.S.-made Global Hawk, but these are limited to surveillance and do not engage in combat. Thus far, no country has deployed drones that fly alongside fighter jets, according to the Defense Ministry.

The Japanese government is currently working on a new fighter aircraft to replace its F-2, aiming for deployment in 2035. The drones will be used to support the new fighter jets….

…For the time being, Japan intends to enhance deterrence through joint drills with MQ9 drones, which the U.S. military will temporarily deploy in Japan in the summer. The MQ9, which the U.S. military has used in Iraq and Syria, can be armed to carry out offensive missions.

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Operations using unmanned aircraft will be the mainstay of aerial warfare in the future. Joint development with the U.S., Japan’s close ally, will make it easier to enhance interoperability.

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Japan counts China and Russia, which are building up their military forces, among its neighbors. The number of scrambles by the Air Self-Defense Force in response to airspace violations by both countries is rising. Moreover, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns that countries could seek to alter the status quo in Asia by force.

Japan’s move to develop unmanned aerial vehicles is a game-changer that will change the nature of combat. It is also a sign of Japan’s urgent desire to upgrade its air defense system.