Japan to Deploy Drones with Early Warning Systems in the Pacific

The Japanese government is reportedly considering the deployment of drones equipped with early warning radar, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun, citing unnamed sources. This move is intended to strengthen surveillance in the Pacific Ocean, which is currently regarded as one of the ‘blind spots’ in Japan’s early warning system.

The drones would be equipped with radar technology typically found on airborne early warning aircraft. This system would enable the early detection of low-flying aircraft, ships, and other targets that are difficult to detect from land or sea due to their position below the horizon.

One option under consideration is the American MQ-9B Sea Guardian maritime surveillance drone, which the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force plans to begin deploying in the 2027 fiscal year (1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028). This drone is capable of long-endurance flights, with a range of approximately 4,900 kilometres.

Additionally, the Japanese government plans to deploy mobile surveillance radar on Iwo Jima and Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands. The newspaper emphasised that the strengthening of the Pacific Ocean surveillance system is planned to be included in the three key security documents that the government will review by the end of this year.