Japan plans to invest approximately 372 million dollars over the next decade to buy new unmanned aerial vehicles as part of a military fleet expansion, Defense One reported Monday.
Daniel Medina writes that an IHS Jane’s senior analyst has indicated that the Japanese government is interested in acquiring Northrop Grumman-made (NYSE: NOC) Global Hawk UAVs as well as missile-tracking drones.
“They (Japan) are progressing their indigenous design and development capability at a rapid pace and could actually meet their objectives even before fiscal year 2020, ” the analyst said, according to the publication.
Defense One reports that the UAV program is intended to help Japanese defense forces protect the nation’s maritime and airspace zones amid its territorial dispute with China.
The proposed $372 million drone investment marks a 300 percent increase from current unmanned aircraft spending levels, according to Medina.
