The 'Key Weapon' Changing Warfare: Japan Accelerates Drone Adoption

Inside a Japanese destroyer, two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) personnel attach wings and tighten screws.

After 10 minutes of assembly, the V-BAT, a new reconnaissance drone adopted by the JMSDF, is revealed.

It weighs approximately 70 kg, measures 2.9 meters in length, and has a wingspan of 3.8 meters, equipped with an infrared camera.

It can fly along a set route for up to 10 hours, transmitting real-time data to the combat command center if it detects suspicious objects.

[JMSDF Public Relations Officer: Compared to helicopters, it can be operated by fewer personnel and consumes less fuel.]

Since the war in Ukraine, drones have established themselves as key weapons that have changed the nature of warfare.

In particular, as it has become clear that existing interception systems struggle to block simultaneous drone attacks, countries are accelerating efforts to develop countermeasures.

Japan is also rushing its response, citing the possibility that Russia may have transferred drone-related technology to North Korea.

[Koizumi Shinjiro / Japan's Minister of Defense: A situation where drones fly in from North Korea is by no means an unrealistic scenario. I hold that sense of crisis.]

However, the drones currently adopted by the Maritime Self-Defense Force do not yet have interception capabilities.

Nevertheless, in the private sector, the development of interception drones has begun with an eye toward supplying the Self-Defense Forces.

[CEO of a Drone Development Company: This drone does not carry explosives. It is designed to neutralize enemy drones by directly ramming into them.]

Drones capable of dropping grenades are also being developed.

The Takaichi administration is scheduled to revise the three security documents containing the national security strategy this year, and it is reported that the plan will include securing a budget to respond to mass drone attacks.

(Reported by Moon Hyun-jin | Video by Lee Sang-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.