Japan to procure massive drones in major defence expansion

Japan plans to procure approximately 52,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various purposes between 2027 and 2031 as part of efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities, Kyodo News reports.

About 10,000 of the planned drones will be long-range strike UAVs capable of hitting ground targets, while another 7,500 will be reconnaissance drones.

Tokyo also plans to invest around 7 trillion yen ($45 billion) in the development of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies, the report said.

In addition, more than 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) is expected to be allocated to equipping Japan’s armed forces with counterstrike capabilities, including long-range missiles capable of targeting sites on the territory of a potential adversary.

The planned spending would be six times higher than the amount allocated for such capabilities under Japan’s current national security strategy.

By Vafa Guliyeva