Japan's Self-Defense Forces Deploy Thousands of Drones for the "Shield" Plan
According to a report from Jiji Press on March 13: The Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to use thousands of drones to build an coastal defense system called the "Shield" plan.
Currently, the Self-Defense Forces face issues such as insufficient training environments and production bases, and are urgently trying to cope with the globally developing "new mode of warfare".
The plan combines more than 10 types of drones, responsible for intercepting enemy ships, collecting intelligence, and radar defense, with the design purpose of preventing enemy invasion in a layered and phased manner.
This plan will cost about 100 billion yen (about 4.4 billion yuan) in the 2026 budget, with the goal of completing the deployment by the end of the 2027 fiscal year.
It is said that the large-scale deployment of drones in the Ukraine-Russia and Middle East conflicts has "changed the nature of war". In recent years, "suspected Chinese aircraft" have flown near Japan, and the Self-Defense Forces often have to respond with emergency takeoffs.
A Self-Defense Forces official expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "We cannot lag behind in the new form of warfare."
However, future challenges still exist. "The control of drones must adjust the frequency bands to avoid affecting civilian facilities."
In January, an accident occurred at the Kirishima Training Ground of the Ground Self-Defense Forces (in Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures), where a reconnaissance aircraft was blown down by strong winds during training and crashed into a nearby field. As of the end of last March, the Self-Defense Forces had 1,200 aircraft, but if drones are used on a large scale, there is an urgent need to train personnel who can operate various models.
To deal with emergencies, building domestic production bases in Japan is also crucial.
Drones are being lost in large numbers due to technological advances and emergency situations. Ukraine produced approximately 2.3 million drones in 2024.
Defense Minister Shigeto Araki emphasized at the meeting: "Establish a foundation that can procure large quantities as soon as possible, and carry out maintenance and improvements from the perspective of strengthening deterrence."
Given that "enterprises find it difficult to predict specific demands," the Ministry of Defense plans to strengthen cooperation with the defense industry and research institutions to ensure continuous operations in case of emergencies."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1859507806026762/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.