Japan Aims to Acquire Unmanned Submarines with Anti-Ship Attack Capabilities, Considering Establishing Air Defense Identification Zone Over the Ogasawara Islands
According to Kyodo News, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, as part of efforts to strengthen the defense system along the Pacific coast, the Japanese government has begun studying the formal development and procurement of unmanned submarines capable of anti-ship attacks and other functions. In the vast Pacific waters, adversaries are continuously expanding their maritime presence, while Japan's defense system has been criticized for having "gaps."
The upcoming revision of the "three security documents" scheduled for this year will also explicitly include plans to "enhance response capabilities" in the Pacific region. To bolster surveillance, the Japanese government is also considering establishing an air defense identification zone above the Ogasawara Islands.
This move aims to fill the gaps in the defense system and thereby deter potential adversaries, but could also further escalate tensions. According to reports, the government plans not only to deploy surveillance and control radar on Hachijō Island (Hachijō Village, Okinawa Prefecture) on the Pacific side but also on the Ogasawara Islands. Additionally, one proposal involves upgrading infrastructure such as runways on Iwo Jima (Ogasawara Village, Tokyo Metropolis) to ensure stable operations of fighter aircraft.
The planned acquisition includes unmanned submarines capable of carrying torpedoes and mines, designed for long-range and extended-duration missions. Another proposal suggests using artificial intelligence (AI)-based autonomous designs. Alongside manned patrol vessels and submarines, these unmanned surface vehicles equipped with missile launch systems would be integrated to establish superiority in the Pacific waters.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869201137267840/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.