Japan eyes using drones for maritime patrolling

The Coast Guard and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces plan to begin patrolling the country’s waters with the help of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones manufactured by the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems from the fiscal year 2023 (starting on April 1, 2023), Report informs referring to Yomiuri newspaper.

One MQ-9B has already been in the northeast of Japan since October. The authorities intend to acquire two more drones, placing them in the south-west of the country.

According to Yomiuri, the decision to use the UAV is connected with the increased activity of the ships of Russia and China. In addition, the use of drones will allow the Japanese authorities to reduce the cost of patrolling in comparison with the involvement of fighters for the corresponding purposes.

The MQ-9B UAV is equipped with a maritime search radar with a variety of modes, including the possibility of imaging using an inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR).