MSDF to deploy U.S.-made SeaGuardian surveillance drones

The Defense Ministry has said that it will deploy U.S.-made drones for the warning and surveillance activities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The ministry has included about ¥25.2 billion for related expenses in its budget request for fiscal 2025.
Aiming to strengthen surveillance in waters including the East China Sea, the ministry said Friday it plans to procure a total of 23 SeaGuardian drones over the next 10 years or so.
The Japan Coast Guard has already been operating three SeaGuardian drones since 2022.
The 24-meter-wide drone model, manufactured by a U.S. company, can fly nonstop for 24 hours and up to about 4,800 kilometers. Its high-end camera and radar can collect information on ship navigation night and day.
According to the ministry, the utility of drone surveillance was confirmed in a demonstration test by the MSDF. The ministry launched a public tender for drone models in August this year, and the SeaGuardian was the only proposal it received.
The SeaGuardian costs roughly ¥12 billion per unit. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2028, although it has not yet been decided where they will be deployed. The MSDF aims to begin full-scale operations as soon as possible by advancing preparations, including pilot training.