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Alcott Wei

Japan is planning to replace some of its attack helicopters with multipurpose drones, prompting warnings from some Chinese media outlets and analysts that this could be seen as a hostile move.
The country’s defence budget, which took effect on April 7 for this financial year, allocates 11.1 billion yen (US$70 million) for the procurement of five wide-area unmanned aerial vehicles.
A further 280 billion yen was allocated for research and development into “unmanned asset defence capabilities”.
Japanese media outlet J-Defence News said this was the first step towards implementing the Defence Build-Up Programme, which was approved in late 2022.
Under the programme, the military will gradually retire its AH-1S Cobra anti-tank helicopters and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, transferring their fire support and reconnaissance roles to multipurpose attack drones.
The programme also calls for a dedicated multipurpose drone unit to be set up by 2032.
J-Defence News said wide-area UAVs could detect surface vessels and other targets over long distances, as well as gathering the intelligence necessary for commanders to assess battlefield conditions and direct fire support.
A social media account from China’s Global Times newspaper said the drones’ capabilities suggested they may be deployed to the Ryukyu Islands.
It said such a move “would further blur the boundaries of the Self-Defence Forces’ mandate of ‘defence’, significantly heightening the perception of offensive, pre-emptive action”.
The Ryukyu Islands stretch across 1,200km (745 miles) from southern Kyushu to northeastern Taiwan and form part of the strategically important First Island Chain.
These islands are largely controlled by US allies and separate China from the open waters of the Pacific.
Japan’s post-World War II pacifist constitution renounces the use of war as a means of settling disputes and bans the country from firing the first shot in any conflict.
Global Times said: “Drones feature short decision-making chains and a high degree of automation, effectively lowering the threshold for engaging in warfare.
“However, should an operational error or misjudgment occur, even a minor friction could spiral out of control and trigger a conflict.”
However, Fu Qianshao, a retired PLA Air Force colonel, said the decision-making risks associated with drones today did not differ significantly from those of crewed aircraft.


“Drones have not yet entered the era of autonomous decision-making; the technology for this is not yet mature,” Fu said.
“Nevertheless, drone patrols offer numerous advantages over manned aircraft. They can remain airborne for extended periods, are highly agile and can significantly increase the frequency and intensity of patrol operations.”
Fu said drones were better suited for missions involving inherent risks, as they could fly into hazardous zones at a lower cost, but warned that China and other countries might view their deployment as an offensive move.
He added this could also “exacerbate regional security tensions and even lead to an increase in incidents involving fighter jet stand-offs”.
Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have been running high since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a conflict over Taiwan might trigger military intervention.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China and has never renounced the use of force to reunite it with the mainland. Japan, in common with most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as independent but opposes any attempt to take it by force.
J-Defence News said the Ministry of Defence had not announced any candidate models, but the ministry has previously said it had tested the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2S and the Israeli-made Heron MK II, both of which have an endurance of over 20 hours and external weapon hardpoints.
Global Times suggested that if these were the two drones in question, the Ryukyu Islands would be a logical place to deploy them based on their performance.
The US-based Defence Blog reported that Japan is also widely believed to have several domestic drones that could be used by the military.
J-Defence News also said that the government may seek to expand and accelerate the build-up of multipurpose UAV units at the end of the year as part of an annual review of its security policies.

Takaichi’s cabinet has sought to revise the policy framework to move beyond an “exclusively defence-oriented” policy towards a more proactive posture – a shift condemned by China as a revival of militarism.
Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that the country was also planning to introduce low-cost kamikaze drones and loitering munitions to enhance its ability to respond to regional threats, including those from China.
The authorities are also considering developing new types of drones launched from aircraft or submarines, as well naval drones that can operate underwater.
Meanwhile, China is also building up its fleet of military drones and is a leading player in the global race to develop new models.


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China-Japan relations

Japan plans to gradually replace its fleet of Apache helicopters with drones. Photo: Reuters

Japan has previously tested Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. Photo: AP 

With an eye on China, Japan looks to kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles

Tokyo is said to have plans to introduce suicide-style drones that fly to a target, crash into it and explode. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Soldiers from the US, Philippines and Japan line up for the start of this year’s Salaknib military drill at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines, on April 6. Photo: Handout

US soldiers conduct anti-tank weapons training during the Salaknib drills at Fort Magsaysay, the Philippines, on April 6. Photo: Handout

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China

Military

The move has triggered warnings that the new drones could be stationed in the Ryukyu chain close to the Chinese coast


The move has triggered warnings that the new drones could be stationed in the Ryukyu chain close to the Chinese coast.


Should China be worried as Japan starts replacing helicopters with drones?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The move has triggered warnings that the new drones could be stationed in the Ryukyu chain close to the Chinese coast

The move has triggered warnings that the new drones could be stationed in the Ryukyu chain close to the Chinese coast