Japan prepares for potential war: 52,000 drones and billions of dollars

As part of efforts to expand its defence capabilities, Japan plans to acquire around 52,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various purposes between 2027 and 2031.

TodayPress TV reports, citing Kyodo, that according to the agency’s sources, nearly 10,000 of the 52,000 drones will be long-range strike UAVs capable of hitting ground targets, while 7,500 will be reconnaissance drones.

It is also reported that nearly 7 trillion yen (approximately $45 billion at the current exchange rate) is planned to be allocated for the development of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies.

More than 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) is expected to be allocated to equip the Armed Forces with capabilities for retaliatory strikes against targets on the territory of a potential adversary, including long-range missiles. This is six times more than envisaged under the country’s current national security strategy.

Aysel Matlab