According to reports, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi recently stated that Japan plans to deploy drone units at the Maritime Self-Defense Force Kanoya Base from July this year, and will introduce eight US military MQ-9 "Reaper" unmanned reconnaissance aircraft for this purpose. . To this end, 150 to 200 US military personnel will be stationed at the base in the future. The MQ-9 UAV can perform reconnaissance and surveillance missions at an altitude of more than 10,000 meters. The Kanoya base is located in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan. It is an important basis for Japan to strengthen its so-called "southwest defense" in recent years.
In fact, this is just the latest progress in cooperation between the two countries in the field of drones. Previously, the Japan Coast Guard , known as the "Second Maritime Self-Defense Force", had announced that in order to strengthen the monitoring of surrounding waters, it would receive the American MQ-9B "Ocean Guardian" drone in October this year and deploy it. Hachinohe Airport in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan.
MQ-9 "Reaper" unmanned reconnaissance drone
(Official website of the U.S. Air Force)
"Sea Guardian" UAV is a maritime combat version of the U.S. MQ-9 "Reaper" UAV, with a endurance of 35 hours and a combat radius of nearly 4,000 Kilometers, covering the first island chain and the second island chain area. Although Japan purchased an unarmed marine surveillance model, its attack capabilities can be improved through software and hardware upgrades and function expansion. It is reported that Japan also plans to continue to introduce multiple drones of this type after 2023.
Earlier, Japan decided to introduce the RQ-4B "Global Hawk" unmanned reconnaissance aircraft from the United States in 2015. The " Global Hawk " is a high-altitude, long-endurance large-scale UAV that can stay at 18,300 meters above the target area for 24 hours for continuous reconnaissance. In March this year, Japan's first "Global Hawk" entered service and arrived at Misawa Air Base after an 18.7-hour non-stop flight, demonstrating its ability to fly across continents and for long endurance.
In addition, the two countries have also cooperated in the development and use of drones. In 2019, Japan and the United States used and exchanged their respective drone equipment for the first time in the annual "Forest Light and Medium Forces" exercise. Japan’s defense white paper shows that Japan and the United States collected and shared “enemy position intelligence” through the use of drones during joint training in 2020. Not long ago, Japan announced its decision to cooperate with the United States in the development of unmanned wingmen, showing that cooperation between the two countries in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles is still expanding.
Japan and the United States have strengthened drone cooperation with the common purpose of strengthening reconnaissance and surveillance of China’s military power. However, under this excuse, both sides also have different plans, and they can be said to have their own agendas.
For Japan, it is trying to take advantage of the United States' anxiety about China's rapid growth in power, and on the grounds of sharing responsibilities, it introduces American-made drones to enhance its own strength, and takes the opportunity to "steal from others" to enhance its own research and development capabilities. Compared with the United States, Japan has relatively little experience in the field of military drone research and development. Cooperation with the United States can avoid detours, reduce investment in scientific research funds and time costs, and speed up the output of results. At the same time, this move can also increase the interoperability of related drones and lay the foundation for Japan and the United States to cooperate in related fields.
For the United States, it can better appease and control Japan by strengthening the deployment of drones in Japan, while monitoring Sino-Russian military operations at close range, and take the opportunity to increase the export of drones and "subcontract" Related reconnaissance operations. The United States has announced that it will no longer field the Global Hawk and will instead sell the equipment to allies such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It seems that it intends to transfer the combat missions of the equipment as well. As Japanese drones are still unable to be reused, this move will not only improve Japan's intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities for surrounding areas, but also allow the US military to share relevant intelligence.
Japan, on the other hand, although it can equip more American drones, will also become more transparent in front of the United States. Moreover, "it is easy to please God but difficult to give away." The deeper the cooperation with the United States, the more controlled it will be by the United States. The effect is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
According to Japan's current Aviation Law , drones weighing more than 200 grams must not fly above 150 meters without permission. Whether it is "Global Hawk" or "Ocean Guardian", its flying height is restricted and requires Using civil airport . Previous flight tests in Japan were only approved when accompanied by a manned light aircraft. In the just-concluded Japanese Senate election, parties supporting constitutional amendments won more than two-thirds of the seats. In the future, Japan may further amend relevant regulations to open the door to the use of "Global Hawk" and "Ocean Guardian" drones. The impact of Japan-US drone cooperation on regional security is also more worthy of vigilance.
