Japan Seeks Rapid Deployment of Interceptor Drones, Aiming for Deliveries from September

Central Message

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, June 17 - Comprehensive Foreign Report) Japan's Ministry of Defense has opened a public solicitation for development proposals of 'interceptor drones' designed to counter attack-type drones. The submission deadline is June 29, with plans to select experimental models in July and conduct testing. Mass production contracts are expected to be signed by the end of August, followed by deliveries starting in September.

The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reported this week that defense equipment development typically takes several years, making this push for completion within such a short timeframe highly unusual. Given the rapid technological advancements in drones observed in the Ukraine war, Japan's government has decided to prioritize accelerated development to avoid falling behind with traditional methods.

Performance requirements set by Japan's Ministry of Defense (equivalent to the Department of Defense) include an operational altitude of approximately 5,500 meters and a speed of about 460 km/h. The experimental drones will not carry weapons such as rockets.

According to the Ministry's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the solicitation is open not only to drone startups but also to large corporations listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (formerly TSE First Section). Taking into account the widespread use of drones like the Iranian-made 'Shahed' overseas, the Ministry will decide on mass production based on the quality of corporate proposals.

The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun noted that domestic Japanese drone manufacturers, unlike China's large-scale producer DJI (Dajiang Innovations), typically produce in small batches, leading to higher costs. Producing dozens of units at once could significantly reduce unit prices. Therefore, the Ministry requires companies to submit not only technical specifications but also pricing for quantities ranging from 10 to a maximum of 50 units, which will be factored into the evaluation process.

The selected drones will be tested in real-world conditions at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force bases and aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers to verify their functionality.

Last week, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, 'For unmanned systems centered on drones, the current era demands the ability to produce them cheaply and at scale.' In response, the Ministry has launched the 'Early Acquisition Program for Interceptor Drones' to solicit external proposals. (Translation: Yang Weijing) 1150617