Japan is gearing up for trials of the MQ-9B Sea Guardian unmanned air vehicle (UAV) over the East China Sea from July to September this year, according to Japan Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's announcement at a recent press conference. Kihara disclosed that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has been conducting trials at JMSDF Hachinohe airbase since May of the previous year, and the UAV will now operate from JMSDF Kanoya Air Base during the specified period.
The Defense Minister highlighted that the trials aim to assess the potential of unmanned systems in replacing some of the missions currently carried out by manned aircraft, such as surveillance and warning. The trials will involve simulated alert surveillance over the East China Sea three times to evaluate the Sea Guardian's capabilities.
It's noteworthy that JMSDF Kanoya Air Base, located on the main island
of Kyushu, had previously hosted UAVs, with the U.S. Air Force operating
MQ-9 Reapers from November 2022 to November 2023 before relocating them
to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa.
The strategic importance of the Southwest islands, including the disputed Senkaku Islands, has prompted Japan to increas...
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