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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Japan plans $5.9 billion combat-drone program as global arms makers compete for a major contract

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Japan plans to deploy combat drones in the air, at sea and underwater from 2027 under its SHIELD defense concept.
  • Boeing says it will propose its MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous combat aircraft, developed with the Royal Australian Air Force, to Japan’s Defense Ministry.
  • The planned 100.1 billion-yen budget has prompted companies to seek local production, Japanese components and partnerships with domestic firms.

Boeing is preparing to pitch Japan on an autonomous combat aircraft as defense companies compete for a drone program worth 100.1 billion yen.

Steve Parker, CEO of Boeing’s defense, space and security division, told Japan’s Nikkei on the 3rd that Boeing would propose the MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Japan’s Defense Ministry. Boeing developed the aircraft with the Royal Australian Air Force.

The MQ-28 can operate without a human pilot at speeds of up to Mach 0.9, an altitude of 12,200 meters and a range of 3,700 kilometers, according to Boeing’s description. Its enlarged wings increase its capacity for air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs. During the multinational Valiant Shield 26 exercise in the Pacific in June, it operated alongside crewed aircraft in reconnaissance, electronic warfare and attack missions as a collaborative combat aircraft and “human pilot’s partner.”

Boeing signed a 754 million Australian dollar contract with the Australian government in December last year to sell seven MQ-28 aircraft, with deliveries planned for 2028. It is now targeting Japan, which plans to build a multilayered drone defense network from 2027. The SHIELD concept calls for large high-performance drones as well as small attack drones, unmanned underwater vehicles and surface vessels.

Japan has already signed mass-production contracts with domestic drone specialists ACSL and Terra Drone for small aerial photography drones and interceptor drones. Rakuten Group plans to work with German defense startup Helsing to propose attack drones to the Ground Self-Defense Force. Other companies are looking to establish production facilities in Japan or use Japanese components. Portugal’s TEKEVER has announced plans for a Japanese production base, while U.S. defense startup Anduril Industries has developed a drone using only Japanese-made components.

Boeing will propose that Japan’s Defense Ministry purchase the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone, which it jointly developed with the Royal Australian Air Force.

· Steve ParkerBoeing’s defense chief described the company’s plan to pursue Japan’s drone program.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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