The Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force have begun planning joint operation of an unmanned patrol aircraft as early as fiscal 2023 to enhance maritime surveillance, government sources have said.
With Chinese and Russian vessels active in the seas around Japan, the JCG and MSDF plan to conduct surveillance more effectively by sharing data obtained from an unmanned aircraft that the JCG has begun operating. The joint operation is set to be a pillar of the organizations' efforts to enhance cooperation with each other.
The aircraft to be jointly operated is a SeaGuardian, produced by General Atomics, an American company. The unmanned aircraft boasts superior surveillance capabilities, as it is equipped with devices such as nighttime infrared cameras and sensors, and it will be tasked with conducting searches after maritime accidents and issuing warnings to suspicious ships, among other missions.
