Amid the war: Japan wants to purchase Ukrainian drones
15 March 01:14
Japan is considering purchasing Ukrainian-made attack drones for its Self-Defense Forces. The main reason is the successful use of this technology in actual combat against Russian aggression.
This was reported by [Komersant], citing Japanese outlets Kyodo News and 47news.
The Japanese government is exploring the possibility of integrating Ukrainian UAVs into its defense arsenal. Ukraine has significantly improved its unmanned aerial vehicle production technology, prioritizing experience gained on the battlefield.
Tokyo will make a final decision after comparing the characteristics of Ukrainian drones with those from other countries. In particular, options from Israel are being considered; however, due to the political situation surrounding the Gaza Strip, Japanese authorities are leaning toward supporting Ukrainian developments.
Advantages of Ukrainian Developments
Representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Defense emphasize that Ukrainian drones have high resistance to electronic warfare (EW) measures and a long flight range.
“Ukraine is rapidly improving based on the results of real combat deployments, which ensures high technical performance,” the ministry noted. In addition to direct procurement, Japan hopes to acquire the technology for future domestic production of drones.
The Middle East wants Ukrainian drones
As a reminder, according to Western media reports, at least one other Gulf country—later identified as Qatar—is negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to shoot down Iranian “Shaheds” more cost-effectively.
Additionally, The Wall Street Journal recently reported, citing sources, that Saudi Arabia plans to make a large-scale purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones. The contract could be worth millions of dollars.
Separately from the Saudi government, according to media reports, oil giant Saudi Aramco is discussing with two Ukrainian companies the purchase of interceptor drones to protect oil fields from attacks by Iranian “Shaheds.”
